Intense and acclaimed poet Equinox is releasing his powerful debut album, which features a remarkable range of artists. Each were invited to freely interpret his work and contribute music to surrounding his poems. The result is a genre-spanning release, from electro to funk, post-punk and cinematic electronica, all of which feature Equinox’s compelling Mancunian voice.
The list of collaborators is interesting, ranging from legends such as Vince Clarke (Erasure, Depeche Mode, Yazoo) to hot current acts such as Deux Furieuses and Feral Five, as well as other top-notch artists from the independent scene, including Ceiling Demons, Rosie Bans, Snippet and Superhand.
The current lead single ‘Kiss’ featuring Feral Five now has the unprecedented honour of being chosen by Gideon Coe of BBC 6 Music as their recommended track of the week. The choice is unusual for a virtually unknown act. Already championed by fellow BBC hosts Steve Lamacq, Tom Ravenscroft, Shaun Keaveny, and Radcliffe & Maconie, this track has found itself very welcome in the spotlight.
The video for ‘Kiss’ was produced and directed by Jay Stansfield. Also a collaborator on the track ‘How It Is’, Jay is currently frontman of post-punk trio All Hail Hyena, having a varied musical career as a solo artist and with John Peel regulars tRANSELEMENt.
The poems featured on this album were recorded by Equinox, who then invited fourteen artists to freely interpret his work. “The whole process took around eight months to complete and it was a constant feeling of surprise and delight to hear how the artists deciphered my work and pieced around their own arrangements,” explains Equinox.
The poetry of Equinox takes no prisoners, with subject matter ranging from male suicide to prostitution, but with equal amounts of undying love and devotion. Equinox isn’t just about poems, but instead stands to break down some misconceptions about the spoken word genre. The often hard-hitting deadpan will continue to be a source of interest.
