{"product_id":"edward-ka-spel-the-sympathy-portal","title":"Edward Ka-Spel 'The Sympathy Portal'","description":"\u003cp\u003eRecorded during lockdown and previously only available as a CDr self-released in an edition of 99 in 2022, 'The Sympathy Portal' collects four tracks (one of which is divided into three parts) that make full use of Edward Ka-Spel’s command of melodies, cosmic churn, subtle field recordings, percolated vocals, hypno-rhythms, tempered noise, broken clocks, atmospheric keyboards, uncoiling springs and carefully hewn dynamics. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCoupled to often despairing or melancholic lyrics, the album ultimately forms a fantastic addition to a body of work from this hardworking artist usually found at home fronting The Legendary Pink Dots and apparently barely able to rest when not engaged in commitments to them. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHere is what he says himself about 'The Sympathy Portal': “'The Sympathy Portal' was created as 2020 drifted into 2021 with the world in the grip of a pandemic. He studied charts on TV, horrified by statistics, temporarily free from a lockdown but well aware that we'd be back in our cubicles soon enough. It was hard to be positive in such an environment and this album reflects much of the fear and tension of the time. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut the last song, 'Angel Trail ( Slight Return)', was intended to offer some genuine hope, having been revived for the release after first appearing in a different form on The Legendary Pink Dots' '9 Lives to Wonder' back in 1994.” The album pays testament to a troubled and troubling time that now, a mere few years on, strangely appears like the grand entrance to a series of heavily dark periods we are still desperate to crawl from. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt could be argued that the angel trail Edward so eloquently refers to is something that needs to be found more than ever and that, thankfully, his music helps to illuminate this despites its mostly distressed overtones.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAway from the confines of a now hard-to-find and long sold out CDr, Lumberton Trading Company brings this album back as a vinyl release that’s limited to 300 and is scheduled to appear in February 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracklisting:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSide One\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Rust Compassionate \u003cbr\u003e2. Ceremonial Coffee \u003cbr\u003e3. Neon Percolators\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSide Two\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Demon Traces \/ Ar444mchair Revolution \/ Angel Trail (Slight Return)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lumberton Trading Company","offers":[{"title":"Vinyl LP","offer_id":56570358137209,"sku":"LUMB038LP","price":23.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0238\/8053\/files\/EdwardKa-Spel-TheSympathyPortal.jpg?v=1770042505","url":"https:\/\/cargorecordsdirect.co.uk\/products\/edward-ka-spel-the-sympathy-portal","provider":"Cargo Independent Distribution","version":"1.0","type":"link"}