Old Fire, the pet project of Texas based programmer John Mark Lapham (of The Earlies and 4AD band The Late Cord fame), has released a music video for the track “Bloodchild,” taken from the debut album Songs From the Haunted South, out now on Kscope. Stream the new “Bloodchild” video clip on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/uoIje9I_kjA.

Purchase Songs From the Haunted South via Amazon.com at: https://www.amazon.com/Songs-Haunted-South-Old-Fire/dp/B01EKR3V1I/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1467040709&sr=1-1, iTunes at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/songs-from-the-haunted-south/id1116815939 and the Kscope webstore at: www.kscopemusic.com/store.

Songs from the Haunted South was produced by John Mark Lapham, mixed by JM Lapham and Mark Kuykendall, and was mastered by Ian Hawgood.

Taking nearly a decade to make, Songs from the Haunted South has been a labor of love for Lapham. Born from an album concept for a 4AD project with singer Micah P. Hinson (The Late Cord), the album was originally intended to feature different singers and musicians recording songs that were both covers and originals. After parting ways with Hinson, Lapham remained determined to realize his vision for the album and sought voices he considered special or fitted the inspiration.

The first piece of the puzzle fell in to place after meeting the former owner of 4AD, Ivo Watts Russell, who introduced Lapham to singer/songwriter, Tom Rapp – who recorded a string of haunting albums in the late ’60s and ’70s under the name Pearls Before Swine. The vocals Rapp provided formed the basis of the track “Shadows.” In the following years, guest vocals were recorded by Sara Lowes (The Earlies), DM Stith, Christopher Barnes (Gem Club), Rebekka Karijord, and Alex Maas (The Black Angels).

Sitting alongside original Old Fire compositions are a selection of intriguing cover versions. Lapham uniquely interprets songs by Psychic TV (“The Orchids”),  Low (“Laser Beam”), Ian William Craig (“A Slight Grip, A Gentle Hold”), Jason Molina (“It’s Easier Now”), Camberwell Now (“Know How”) and Shearwater (“Helix”).

The 13-track album contains a selection of songs that, in one way or another, are dedications to people, some dead and some still living. Musically, inspirations range from ambient artists such as Brian Eno and Stars of the Lid to psychedelic rock, traditional country and early 4AD.

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