#Inspiration

Lethal

Let Anno Domini take you through a night out

​

Its dance music, but with an AD twist, inspired by the fun, the music, the dancing, the lights, the company and the drink. From a slow build start, the a full trance/dance build, Lethal is the night out in about 4 minutes

Parallel

Parallel (.--. .- .-. .- .-.. .-.. . .-..)

Album: Parallel

.. ..-. / -.-- --- ..- / .-- .- -. - / - --- / -.- -. --- .-- / -- --- .-. . / .- -... --- ..- - / - .... .. ... / .-. . .-.. . .- ... . --..-- / -.-- --- ..- / -.-. .- -. / . .. - .... . .-. / ..-. --- .-.. .-.. --- .-- / ..- ... / --- -. / - .-- .. - - . .-. --..-- / --- .-. / .- ... -.- / ..- ... / -.. .. .-. . -.-. - .-.. -.-- .-.-.- / -... ..- - / -.. --- -. .----. - / .-- --- .-. .-. -.-- --..-- / -.-- --- ..- / .-- --- -. - / .... .- ...- . / - --- / .-- .- .. - / .-.. --- -. --. / -... . ..-. --- .-. . / .-- . / .-.. . - / - .... . / -.-. .- - / --- ..- - / --- ..-. / - .... . / -... .- --.

Colossus - a secret project, covered up until the late 1970s. The first programmable digital computer was put to work in 1944 having been developed in the preceding years by Tommy Flowers and his team at the GPO research centre in Dollis Hill, London.

Its an amazing story, and one which ultimately denied one genius his recognition. To find out more about Colossus, please visit the National Museum of Computing at Bletchley Park, UK (@TNMOC). www.tnmoc.org

The inspiration for the album as a whole comes from the development of computing and its uses in the 20th and 21st centuries

One Day in May

Inspiration from anywhere is manor from heaven for musicians, but for sports fans who are also musicians? Well, once in a while you get *THAT* moment.

For Anno Domini, that moment had been building throughout the 2018/19 English Premier League season, and Watford FCs run to the FA Cup Final in May 2019

To be in Wembley, for any team is special. To be in Wembley for Watford FC? That is dreamland for the fans. Underlined by the drama o the FA Cup Semi Final Watford played against Wolves. 0:2 down with 11 minutes to do, Watford won 3:2 - if that isnt inspiration for a football fan, then nothing is.

With both band members at the game..... music was bound to happen.

Conflict

Album: Overture
When any track sets its stall out like this, you really can only imagine what was going on in the composers minds. Conflict was actually originally composed in 1991, and was initially conceived as a follow on from an early (unreleased) Anno Domini track called "war". However it wasn't until the late 2000s when the modern version was recorded.

Right at the start of the track, there is a reverse cymbal sound; symbolising an incoming bomb, it is backed by a slowed down sample "just relax, and listen". That is exactly how the band want you to be; relaxed... because this is going to be one hell of a ride.

This version of conflict was released to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Multi layered drums and a sawing synth/string lead give a sense of foreboding, the band have set out modern warfare with a dance inspired beat. The madness of warfare is further explored as a sample of Winston Churchill is used, "never in the field of human conflict..."

As the track progresses, you are taken along with its flowing theme; this is a fast paced, almost breathless take on war. Its scary, dramatic, and ultimately respectful.

The Other Reason

Album: Parallel
War is horrendous. Human suffering should never be tolerated. Liberty is vital.
What was the reason for the Iraq war? Freedom vs Oppression? Money and Oil vs Human Rights? Perhaps the truth will never out. This track is neither for nor pro the action taken, its simply a musical take on the events, offering up The Other Reason.

Speedbird

Album: Overture
Concorde - pure and simple. The master feet of engineering, the most dynamic passenger aircraft ever built, capable of transferring passengers from London to New York in under 3 hours, and now - history.

The final commercial flights arrived at London Heathrow on November 26th 2003, and the most beautiful bird in the sky was resigned to museums and exhibitions. As the various airframes were "loaned" out, there was to be one final flight; London Heathrow to Filton, Bristol; where Concorde was originally produced. And its that flight which Speedbird was written for. The track is in two pieces (one track, listed as parts 1 and 2); part 1 is a slowly building piece, reminding us of the 1950/1960s, the early design work; up to the glamour of the late 1970s when she came into service.

There is a dizzying spell cast in the mid section between the pieces; its a busy airport terminal, but an unfamiliar noise is there; an alarm? perhaps a warning? Of course no one could deny the tragedy of the the Air France Concorde crash in July 2000; and that is exactly where this section of the track is coming from; half heard conversations, and alarms. Perhaps unnerving, but its an important part of Concorde's history.

But something emerges from the noise, something dramatic. Part 2 is the Concorde rebirth of 2001-2003; but this time the track is laced with samples of that final flight to Filton. The dynamism of the music plays off against the sombre tone of the conversation between air traffic control and the pilot. They all know this is the last time....

Well, possibly (we can hope)

Declaration

Album: Progressions
Perhaps war, or more specifically WWII plays an important part in the lives of Anno Domini. However in 1994, the band produces a seminal work in Declaration. 

As the title suggests, this is about the moment when diplomacy fails, and the military option appears to be the only path left.

"This is London, you will now hear a statement by the Prime Minister..." Samples of Neville Chamberlain echo out at the start of this track; you are in a dark place with an analogue synth base designed to mimic the heartbeat; pulling you down into a fearful place.

As the track develops, its clear the 50th anniversary of WWII played heavily on the bands minds. This track tries to emulate the nightmarish spectre of war, as a loud tick-tock-tick-tock dominates the latter stages. Is that a clock, ticking down to its final moments, is it a time bomb metaphor? 

The eerie hopefulness of "we'll meet again" grinds against the oppressive nature of this track; mixing the 'eternal optimist' against the 'ultimate pessimist'.

As the track winds down, the tick-tock grows ever louder, Neville Chamberlain makes a return, but its all to no avail  This is another declaration at the track's end, more war? the same one again? Perhaps we just never escape.

Standing Alone Together

Album: Overture
Pure and simply, Standing Alone Together is a self portrait. Both band members have experience the feeling of utter solitude, both personally and professionally. But its through friendship and (in this case) music that foundation was discovered.

In other words, this is pure emotion. When all around are deserting you, when you have to stand up and be counted, that feeling is hard to explain, but easy to record.

One Day Away

Album: Overture
At this time, there is no where in the world that is more than One Day Away. Even if you are in the outback of Australia, the wilds of Thailand, or even Essex, you are not that far away from the ones you love.