C Duncan announces Twilight Zone-inspired second record The Midnight Sun

The Glasgow composer is swiftly following up Mercury-nominated debut album Architect, which arrived last summer.

“I knew I wanted the album to have more of a theme/thread throughout it which Architect didn’t have," says Duncan of the new LP. "I have always had a bit of an obsession with The Twilight Zone (the original 1960s series) - the strange stories, the often brooding atmosphere, and the stylised aesthetic. No matter how different the stories in each episode are there's a strong atmosphere and look to each episode which ties the all the episodes together. Although the songs themselves, I wanted to capture the atmosphere and create something that is almost an anthology series styled album, in which all the tracks tie together stylistically without being one big conceptual record.”

The Midnight Sun is actually named after an episode of the show from 1961.

“'The Midnight Sun' is one of my favourite [Twilight Zone] episodes," Duncan says. "It embodies the style of The Twilight Zone perfectly, which is often claustrophobic, mysterious and unnerving. 'The Midnight Sun' is also a real natural phenomenon, occurring in the Arctic Circle during summer, preventing the nights from ever being fully dark. Although not as extreme in Glasgow, during summer we often only get three or four hours between dusk and dawn. This has always had a profound effect on me mentally during these months, being more of a night owl myself, as it completely messes with my internal clock and confuses me year after year.”

The Midnight Sun is released 7 October by FatCat.

Check out "Wanted To Want It Too" below. Find Duncan's upcoming live dates after.

August

5 - Glasgow, Kelvingrove Park Bandstand w/ Idlewild
6 - By Beauly, Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival
20 - Port of Menteith, Doune The Rabbit Hole
27 - Dumfries, Electric Fields

September

2 - Berwick, Lindisfarne Festival
3 - Birmingham, Moseley Folk Festival
4 - Portmeirion, Festival No.6
23 – Aberdeen - The Lemon Tree at True North Festival

October

8 - Glasgow, Citizens Theatre
20 - London, ICA

February 2017

1 - London, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire