Splore 'Backscattering'

Splore is the name of a musical project created by Nick Saloman and Dave Palmer. Nick is, of course, the man behind The Bevis Frond, and Dave Palmer is the producer and engineer of many Bevis Frond albums. These two gents have worked together for decades but, for some obscure reason, they have never put a collaborative album out. In mid-2024 they decided to try and create some music together. Dave is a great keyboardist and Nick’s guitar talents aren’t much of a secret.

So, the two of them ensconced themselves in Dave’s Graffite Studios and began jamming and working on some ideas. The sounds were very encouraging and as the ideas and tracks started flowing it was clear that they were on to something a bit special. As a result, they decided to bring in some friends to add their own bit of magic to the project. You will hear contributions from great guitarist Bari Watts, poet Kevin John Rogers and Oak Acetator’s synth king Robin Way.

Paul Simmons came and played some inimitable guitar, while Eliza Skelton provided some haunting flute. Our own diva Debbie Wileman performed a song that should be the next Bond theme, and Louis Wiggett provided vocals toa song that could well have appeared on a later Beatles album. Yet, despite the presence of these two exquisite songs, ‘Backscattering’ is predominantly an instrumental album featuring an array of instruments including synthesizers, organs, pianos, mellotron, guitars, sitars, flute, theremin, bass, drums, tape loops and various effects.

The music ranges from psychedelia via krautrock, reggae and soundtrack themes to spoken word. It culminates in the 25 minute thunderous heavy rock title track. In the end there was too much music recorded to fit on a single album, and as Nick & Dave did not want to leave any tracks off, they went all ‘Johnny Winter’ and thus the LP will be issued as a three-sided album.

Tracklisting:
1. Il Pirata
2. The Beaver
3. Knot Garden
4. Norman Speaks
5. Guava River
6. Dev Geet
7. You Are The Light
8. English Wire
9. Anthem #4
10. Come Home Melody Moon
11. Backscattering