Constant Follower's contribution to clarinettist Peter Russell's collaborative album '19-21 Fray, Dissolve into Fade' released July 30th 2021. Full album featuring works by Scott William Urquhart, The Burning Hell, Moonsoup, Origami Ghosts, The Narcissist Cookbook and more: thedeathcollective.bandcamp.com/album/19-21-fray-dissolve-into-fade

"Forth Valley, Scotland, has a long history of emerging bands and musical talent. What it has lacked is the support network of professional practice for career-building; the infrastructure of venues, studios, promoters and music press. The Death Collective, a loose aggregation of musicians and supporters, emerged out of this need for connection.

Among those present at early gatherings of the Collective was clarinettist Peter Russell; long dedicated to experimental sound, though unburdened by any formal musical education, Russell’s commitment to free music and improvisation (not uncommon in the contemporary art scene) found its way onto several recordings in the DC cannon, as well as Stirling alumni such as Railfan.

The idea for this album emerged from these live collaborations, loosely beginning somewhere around the Death Collective’s first ‘Swamp Day’ album release concert alongside Quitter, Gregor Flynn, Craig Ferrie, Kieran Hughes, Death Bed and Niamh Baker aka Moonsoup. Followed shortly thereafter by spots in the bohemian basement of Mediterranéa (a good-food joint in Stirling) with The Burning Hell from Canada, and US band Origami Ghosts.

The plan was to invite interested DC people and past collaborators to offer a song each for the album, in full knowledge that the clarinet would have a role in their creations. Indeed, there was sufficient interest to justify an album project.

Recordings were made in Russell’s front room, with some tracks (including Hamburg-based Tony Stosch) appearing fully formed from those who could not commit the travel, and were complete by late summer 2019. At which point, with people on the move, the impetus faltered, and the project was shelved. The album might have been consigned to fiction without the redoubtable energies of McAll, the Constant Follower, who had recorded his track independently, and suddenly realised how the project must work. Within weeks, from February to April 2021, he had gathered all the streams, mixed and mastered the definitive tracks, and overseen release.

The project began with a joyous declaration of friendship and support within DC members, more likely to be closer to 20 years old than 70 plus, as Russell is. And it has culminated in a reaffirmation of that energy and appreciation."