Sounds From The Ground

Sounds From The Ground (SFTG) is an English electronic music duo formed in 1995. Both members Nick Woolfson and Elliot Jones met through their involvement with the underground music scene in London.

Elliot Jones' background is chillout and dub, from running his own label and doing clubs and gatherings in the early nineties. Nick Woolfson has worked in lots of different styles of music, as long as it is innovative and good quality, and downtempo is his comfort zone. Jones had written Triangle as a demo and was introduced to Woolfson, their styles matched and the duo was born.

Woolfson's studio is called The Starlight Rooms and is located in London. Woolfson has been working on a Mac and Logic for approximately the last 10 years. He has some old analog and digital synthesizers which he still uses : Yamaha CS-70, ARP Axxe, Moog Rogue, Yamaha CS30, Roland TB-303, Yamaha DX7, Virus, 2 x Roland JV-1080, 2 x Akai S3000 samplers. He also has a Mackie 32-8 plus extra 24 input desk but these days most of the work is done in the Mac, making the mixing desk virtually redundant.

SFTG have done a few collaborations over the years, including vocalists Taz, Aine, Colein, Nicola Hitchcock, Dillinger and General Levy. The duo has also worked with pedal steel guitarist BJ Cole, ex Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor as well as Gaudi and also collaborated with Benjamin Zephaniah.

The duo were regular performers and dj's at The Big Chill music festivals and have played at Glastonbury.

Woolfson and Jones are in the middle of recording their second EP in a series of three which will be released in March 2010, the first EP being In The Cool Of The Shade. The duo should be going in the studio to record their next album from January 2010 onwards most likely for an October 2010 release.

Discography

Kin

SFTG released their debut album in 1996 entitled Kin, it was to prove a landmark release, widely acclaimed. Kin merged hip hop, dub and jazz and caught the imagination of hearts and minds worldwide.

Kin charted on the top 20 of the CMJ RPM charts.

Track listing:

1. Gather
2. Drawn to the woman
3. Loaf
4. Pearl
5. Triangle
6. Over There
7. Where The Wild Things Were
8. Seven Sisters

Mosaic

The duo’s second album Mosaic (Terra Firma in the U.S.) was released in 1999. It was a deeper collection of musical soundscapes and helped secure SFTG as a force to be reckoned with. The album includes drum and bass, jazz and soul influences.

The album charted on the top 20 of the CMJ RPM charts as Terra Firma.

Track listing:

1. Snow
2. Treasure
3. Bodega Bay
4. Drugstore
5. The Cut
6. Marshmello
7. Rye
8. Circle & Star
9. Planted

Natural Selection

Their third album Natural Selection saw SFTG move into a new phase, working with various vocalists resulting in a colourful, uplifting album with a positive message.

The song New Day was featured on the movie The Guardian soundtrack and the TV series Wonderfalls. Lean On Me was also on Wonderfalls. Gentle Healing was featured in Smallville season 2 soundtrack.

Track listing:

1. Lean On Me
2. Moving Into a New Space
3. Inner World
4. Gentle Healing (Trust)
5. The Shepherd
6. New Day
7. Whispers
8. I Forgive Me
9. Wishing Tree
10. Pictured

Luminal

SFTG's fourth album Luminal was well received and embraces everything that makes the duo thrive, deep spacious tracks that captivate and inspire.

Luminal charted on the top 20 of the CMJ RPM charts.

Track listing:

1. Razz
2. As The Day Goes By
3. Stampede
4. Ten Tons of Dope
5. London Fields
6. Tumbledown
7. Move On
8. Burning Bright
9. Poems

High rising

SFTG's fifth album High Rising delivered a fresh and direct approach to soulful electronica and was released in October 2006, featuring collaborations with Gaudi and UK vocalist Taz.

High rising charted on the top 20 of the CMJ RPM charts.

Track listing:

1. White City
2. Rotorblade
3. Slate Grey
4. Viper Style
5. Beautiful Feeling feat. Taz
6. Modo
7. Palmprint feat. Gaudi
8. Blink
9. Speedbumps
10. Allsorts

Brightwhitelight

The duo's 6th studio album Brightwhitelight was released in October 2008 on Waveform Records. It saw SFTG deliver a shimmering and reflective instrumental album full of depth and space.

Brightwhitelight charted for three months in the top 20 of the CMJ RPM charts in the USA, peaking at #6 (November 2008 to February 2009).

Track listing:

1. The Gift
2. Eclipse on 5th
3. Restless
4. Nightshift
5. Dune
6. Under the Sun
7. Elemental
8. Sweet Confusion
9. Waves
10. Mesh

Thru The Ages

Thru The Ages is the seventh release and contains rare and unreleased material from the studio vaults dating back to the early origins of SFTG. Originally released via download only, this title has now been made available on a limited edition CD which includes a bonus track.

Track listing:

1. City Of Dust
2. Inside Out
3. Eyes Wide Open Ft Aine
4. Union Dub
5. Vessel And The Deep
6. Shapeshifter
7. Wicked Flow
8. Bunches

In The Cool Of The Shade EP

The latest offering In The Cool Of The Shade (EP) is a download only release and available from the 7th September 2009, containing three enchanting ambient cuts.

Track listing:

1. Departures
2. Molten
3. First Light

External links

• Sounds From The Ground's official site
• Official Myspace page
• Sounds From The Ground at Discogs
• Sounds From The Ground at Last.fm