Lee Ashcroft – ‘Persons Underground’

“Moody beats for a post-lockdown hellscape. Contains theremin.”

“Mournful bass, synth washes and lethargic rhythms, born from anguish, leading to hope.”

Cruel Nature Records, 28 June 2024
Now available for download
Cassettes available at live shows

Side A:

  1. Slava Domnului (with Alina Noir)
  2. Recital (with Kö Manafumi)
  3. Hypnagogia (with Noah Britton)

Side B:

  1. Lodestar (with Rev Simpkins) – 5:23
  2. Gutter Rave (remix by John Callaghan and Tristram Oaten (namtao.com))
  3. Control Z (with Jack Burley)
  4. Waypoint (with Gemma Oakley)
  5. Slava Domnului (reprise)

Mastered by Daniel Merrill
Artwork by Tim Oakenfull

An 8-track album of original electronic songs, released in a limited edition of cassette tapes

Press pack

Teaser audio

‘Persons Underground’ began in a few weeks into the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown. While the rest of the world seemed to be at home baking sourdough and watching ‘Tiger King’, I was on the frontline, attempting to maintain the wellbeing of disabled adults at a point they were forbidden to leave their home. Through a fog of low mood and physical exhaustion, a chance encounter with some cult record labels looking for lockdown-inspired submissions, along with some old musical acquaintances, led to the discovery of a new sound for me – mournful, bassy, with lethargic rhythm.

Over the next 4 years, I continued to explore these sonic territories, working with singer-songwriters and producers from the UK, Europe, Singapore, and the US. The resulting album is the culmination of this work – a journey through the haze of physical and mental exhaustion, coming out the other side to a more hopeful future.

Over 20 years into making music in various forms, this is the musical work I am most proud of. I hope you enjoy it x