Luke Howard
All of Us
Mercury KX
2022
All of Us is not only an exquisite portrait of isolation, loss, resistance and reconciliation in both stark and rich shades of piano, orchestra and electronics, but the theme of quarantine provides a framework for the record. In this strange, unsettling and unexpected world, he found himself turning to French novelist Albert Camus’ classic absurdist novel The Plague, written in 1947, in which the prescient saga of a plague sweeping the French Algerian city of Oran was an existential allegory for humanity’s vulnerability and inability to control its own destiny.
Buy LP / Apple Music / Amazon
Performed by
Luke Howard
Budapest Art Orchestra
Engineered by Gabor Buczko, Luke Howard and Thomas Rouch
Mixed by Hadyn Buxton and Luke Howard
(except some tracks, mixed by Ben Lukas Boysen and Luke Howard)
Mastered by Martyn Heyne
Artwork by Stuart Geddes and Žiga Testen
Produced by Luke Howard
(except some tracks, produced by Ben Lukas Boysen and Luke Howard)
/
Luke Howard
All That Is Not Solid
Mercury KX
2020
All That Is Not Solid features improvised music from Luke Howards’ four concerts at Melbourne classical venue Tempo Rubato in January. Howard freely improvised for an hour before featuring his pre-existing pieces in the second half. The concerts took place while bushfires raged in Australia, and were nearly cancelled because of the heat, but offered solace and comfort to audiences during that time.
Recorded at
Tempo Rubato, Melbourne
Engineered by Hadyn Buxton
Mixed by Lachlan Carrick and Luke Howard
Mastered by Lachlan Carrick
Artwork by Luci Everett
Produced by Luke Howard
/
Luke Howard
The Sand That Ate The Sea
Mercury KX / Hobbledehoy (HOB056LP)
2019
The Sand That Ate The Sea, originally composed for the namesake film by director Matthew Thorne, is a response to the community and conditions of the Australian outback. It features long-time collaborators Leonard Grigoryan, Lior and Erkki Veltheim, along with Erased Tapes-signed vocal ensemble Shards in Howard’s first compositions for choir.
Buy LP / Apple Music / Spotify
Recorded at
Primrose Potter Salon, Melbourne
Additional recording at
Lukktone, Melbourne
The Pool, London
Engineered by Hadyn Buxton, Luke Howard and Jonathan Steer
Mixed by Hadyn Buxton and Luke Howard
Mastered by Martyn Heyne
Artwork by Mark Gowing
Produced by Luke Howard and Matthew Thorne
/
Luke Howard
Open Heart Story
Mercury KX (6704154)
2018
Written at a time of introspection and self-reflection, Open Heart Story explores fragmented relationships, childhood memories and getting older. A contemplative and uplifting journey, ranging from intimate solo piano pieces to emotive works for 23-piece string orchestra, the album follows a natural evolution from Luke’s previous recordings.
“Contemporary classical music does not get much better than this. Simply stunning.” – Sunday Express
“Remarkably beautiful” – Clash
“There’s something elevating in the compositions - exalting in the ride, like a decelerating roller-coaster of your life with all its ups and downs.” – Headphone Commute
4/5 – Record Collector
“Through his short yet prolific career, Luke Howard has distinguished his piano-based work amidst a sea of imitators by its variety and, more importantly, its honesty – the precious sense of his instrument bringing to song his brightest adventures and deepest anxieties.” – A Closer Listen
Official Store / Apple Music / Spotify
Recorded at
Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Melbourne
Lichte Studio, Berlin
Additional recording at
Ginger Studios, Melbourne
Lukktone, Melbourne
Melba Hall, Melbourne
MESS, Melbourne
Tender Trap Studios, Melbourne
Engineered by Hadyn Buxton, Lachlan Carrick, and Martyn Heyne
Mixed by Hadyn Buxton
Mastered by Mandy Parnell
Artwork by Mark Gowing
Produced by Luke Howard
/
Luke Howard
Two Places
Mercury KX (LH006CD/LP)
2016
With his new record Two Places, composer Luke Howard continues with his exploration of piano and electronic music that he begun on his previous release Sun, Cloud. Each track is composed beautifully as Howard draws influences from composers like Arvo Pärt framed around the modern sounds of his contemporaries.
“Two Places... shines as a bearer of more diverse cargo, drifting through waters unattached to genre or expectation” – Chris Redfearn, A Closer Listen
“Two Places finds the line between humble and ecstatic in its supreme poise.” – Andrew Khedoori, 2SER
“The minimal progressions here hint at influences from Arvo Pärt, Steve Reich, and Jóhann Jóhannsson, drenched in the atmosphere of melancholy, heartache and even grief.” – Headphone Commute
“What really moves me about contemporary classical music is when there’s heart-rending beauty... and this track when I heard it for the very first time completely knocked me sideways.” – Stephen McCauley, BBC Radio Ulster
Recorded at Sing Sing, Melbourne
Additional recording at
Air Edel, London
dKA, Knokke
Handwerk, Berlin
Pughouse, Melbourne
Lukktone, Melbourne
Engineered and mixed by Hadyn Buxton
Additional engineering by Lachlan Carrick, Jono Steer, Nick Taylor
Mastered by Mandy Parnell
Artwork by Mark Gowing
Produced by Luke Howard
/
Luke Howard
Sun, Cloud
Mercury KX (4816385)
2013
In 1802 a chemist and amateur meteorologist named Luke Howard presented a paper recommending a new system of classifying clouds, using the names cumulus, stratus and cirrus.
Recorded over 2012 in Melbourne, Oslo and Reykjavík, pianist/composer Luke Howard's inaugural solo album draws upon the minimalist approach of his previous projects, conjuring rich cinematic soundscapes using piano, strings and electronics. Sun, Cloud was long-listed for the 2013 Australian Music Prize.
“Absolutely heavenly... I can hotly recommend.” – Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC Radio 6
“The ten pieces on Sun, Cloud are totally sublime... Keep your eyes and ears peeled, kids – this is a composer you must pursue!” – Headphone Commute
“A wholly immersive, resplendent listen, utilising minimalist contemporary classical recording techniques with a ten-piece ensemble. For fans of Max Richter...” – Tim Boddy, The 405
“A lovely album from start to finish, Sun, Cloud is at times achingly beautiful... a sense of awe akin to that of discovery.” – Richard Allen, A Closer Listen
“Luke’s music is majestic, thought-provoking... Fans of classical soundtrack composers like James Newton Howard should relish in the subtle pianos and poignant string melodies that Luke unfolds, in what is an absolutely superb debut solo album.” – Ryan Griffin, A Strangely Isolated Place
Official Store / Amazon / Spotify / iTunes
Recorded at
RainbowStudio, Oslo
Additional recording at
Greenhouse Studios, Reykjavík
Sundlaugin, Reykjavík
Allan Eaton, Melbourne
Lukktone, Melbourne
Town Hall, Melbourne
Engineered by Hadyn Buxton and Jan Erik Kongshaug
Additional engineering by Elisabeth Carlsson, Paul Evans, Peer Ursfjord
Mixed by Hadyn Buxton
Mastered by Mandy Parnell
Artwork by Jack Vanzet
Produced by Luke Howard
