Here is the latest single from singer-songwriter Ian Roland. ‘Lodestone’ showcases Roland’s pure, graceful voice. He has an impressive range and delivers smooth, high notes that turn the song into something like a folk-hymn. Halfway though, the song bursts into life, gloriously transporting us away from wherever we are and through the fields and ages about which Roland sings. The sound is rich and full, thanks to some talented players. In particular, Simon Yapp’s violin and viola complement Roland’s finger-picked guitar beautifully, rising up from Dave Coomber’s earthy bass-line.
Roland says of the song’s inspiration: “Inspired by the sound of local church bells heard echoing across a Sussex village, this song points to the enduring purity of music as a uniting force that rings true in all of us. Music helps grow and sustain us. It helps grow and sustain communities. Music helps form shared identities and helps us appreciate difference. Music accompanies us through all the distinct stages of our lives. The sound of church bells rolling across the South Downs on a Sunday morning transcends the restrictive, the prescriptive, the contained, and allows our hearts to beat free for a moment.”
This is Roland’s second single of 2024, after ‘Living in Sound’ in April. Enjoy.
