On my birthday in 1992 I had the notion of exploring ‘pure emotions in sound’. This became the Global Communication project which I developed with Mark Pritchard. We released a handful of 12’s including the legendary “Ob Selon Mi Nos”, best known as the 15 minute ambient epic punctuated by a Grandfather Clock rhythm. Our debut album “76:14” was declared an ambient classic of the decade, voted the best soundtrack for lovemaking (!) and in part inspired Pete Lawrence and Katrina Larkin to host the first Big Chill festival in Wales.

Moving forward in time to 1998, a year after the final Global Communication release on Dedicated, I was yearning for an outlet for the ‘emotions in sound’ concept. I spent New Years Eve ‘98/99 in Cornwall by the coast with a friend and we witnessed a breathatking lunar phenomenon, a 22º Halo, ten times the size of the full moon. We headed down to beach and lay in the dunes mesmerized by the giant glowing white ring in the night sky.

I felt compelled to turn the experience into music. This first track “Moonbathing”, heralded the birth of AMBA. The name means Mother in Indian and is dedicated to the memory of my Mum, a classical pianist and ballerina who I’ve clearly inherited my musicality and love of dance music from.

Big Chill Recordings is the logical spiritual home for AMBA as Pete Lawrence has been championing the music since the beginning. 
In December of 2000 The Big Chill put on a special event at The Union Chapel, where performed new and reworked pieces for a 40-piece choir backed by an electro-acoustic ensemble. This was composed, arranged and scored from within the chapel itself to optimise the acoustics and create an emotive and powerful real surround sound listening experience. With a new arrangement of Global Communications seminal ambient work 'Ob Selon Mi Nos' and the epic lullaby '12:18' finally performed as a choral work as it was originally intended, this was one of the Big Chill's most memorable events. There where few dry eyes that evening.

It’s been an ongoing personal project since then, running quietly in the background. There’s been no need to shout about AMBA. Those who have witnessed the live shows will testify to the emotional power of the music.
AMBA provides me with the music that’s missing in my life.

The whole album is the soundtrack to my life since ’99. Hence the title . Every person, location, journey, sensual and emotional experience forms part of what this music is. I composed Sea Of Glass looking down at the ocean from 38000 ft enroute to Japan from Australia.

Cornwall is a great source for me, having spent the best part of my childhood there. There are some obvious, literal references to specific locations where, in the case of St.Ives Bay for example, you can witness breathtaking panoramic views from Godrevy Head. The track is evocative of a blustery winters day by the sea, much more dramatic than a typical picture perfect cloudless sunny day!
Eno, Vangelis and Tomita are big inspirations, but you’ll pick up references to romantic impressionist and soundtrack composers; Ravel, Debussy, Satie, Vaughn Williams and Steve Reich to Ennio Morricone, John Barry, Thomas Newman, John Williams and Craig Armstrong for example.
In the same breath I’d name check the likes of electronica producers The Boards Of Canada, early Aphex, Black Dog, Zero 7, Air, Massive Attack and The Orb.
Fused with the melody and emotion of Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, U2, The Police and Prince. Classical, Electronica, Jazz and Pop, all clues to my musical personality and those apparent subconscious influences.

The current technology allows me to compose on a laptop literally anywhere I want; train, beach, up a mountain, using a virtual ‘orchestra and 5 piece band’. It’s incredibly liberating not being tied down to a traditional studio environment anymore. Whenever and wherever I feel creative or inspired to express myself I can.
The way I have arranged the music means that I can replace virtual parts with real performance for live shows. For some of the tracks I brought in the Echo Girls to record the string arrangements, Andy Kremer for Bass and Lou Rhodes current co-producer and multi percussionist/drummer Emre Ramazanoglu.

Last summer saw the debut live performance at the Big Chill Eastnor, UK featuring a full 21 piece live band and string ensemble led by Zero 7’s  Sally Herbert, my chums The Bays, Tom Szirtes and Charlie Casey.
This year I’m developing the project further into AV collaborating with Visual Artists Nick Hillel (Yeast) and Ben Mason (Red Dog) then on the horizon is a DVD and tour.

Lifetracks will be released on One World Music in July.