Listen to the entire album:
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Or download the tracks:
| 01_Images.mp3 | 3.3 MB | 11/5/2009 5:22 am | 02_Simple Spirit.mp3 | 4.0 MB | 11/5/2009 5:22 am | 03_Never My Swansong.mp3 | 4.3 MB | 11/5/2009 5:24 am | 04_Modern Antiquity.mp3 | 4.4 MB | 11/5/2009 5:25 am | 05_Fate and Fortune.mp3 | 4.5 MB | 11/5/2009 5:27 am | 06_Ode to Sosaria.mp3 | 3.0 MB | 11/5/2009 5:27 am | 07_Mike the Mean Clown.mp3 | 2.3 MB | 11/5/2009 5:29 am | 08_Surface of the Water.mp3 | 4.8 MB | 11/5/2009 5:30 am | 09_Foundation.mp3 | 3.8 MB | 11/5/2009 5:31 am | 10_Light Duty.mp3 | 3.7 MB | 11/5/2009 5:33 am | 11_Images - Ximtao Mix.mp3 | 3.2 MB | 11/5/2009 5:33 am |
“The London Series” was recorded during the summer of 1991 after I returned from a semester in London. I came up with most of the tunes while abroad and hence the name of the album. This was one of our most prolific summers; we also recorded the music for and filmed the movie “Light
Duty”. The quality of the songs and recording style is consistent throughout the album and it has a distinct 1991 sound to it. The album features two of my favorite songs: “Simple Spirit” and “Surface of the Water” although I have never been happy with any recording of “Surface of the Water”. I think it’s been attempted at least three times. Actually, that particular song was created only a few days before leaving for London. I was a little apprehensive about leaving and I think that’s what gives it it’s darker character. My favorite recording of it is still the rough version that Matt and I recorded in a practice session.
Theron Welch, Seattle, 2004
In 1991, Theron spent a semester in London. He came back with some innovative new song ideas that he developed while abroad. The result was “The London Series.” Never My Swan Song is one of my favorite FT arrangements ever, and Surface of the Water belongs in the FT Hall of Fame (if such a hall existed). I’m especially happy with the lyrics to that song. The lyrics to Simple Spirit are based on a Jules Pfeiffer poem. The 
integration of the lyrics and the music is seamless; I can’t imagine one without the other. Light Duty was actually written as the theme song to a movie we shot that summer. I spent July strapped to the back of an El Camino, running through the woods, and dodging explosives – hardly “light duty,” but it was very enjoyable. “The London Series” also contains the FT song that has received the most public airplay, but it’s not one you might expect. Mike the Mean Clown is such a silly, infectious tune that I have used it several times in my comedy shows with The Hypothetical 7.
Matthew Reiss, Kansas City, 2004
Frozen Taco - Circa "The London Series", 1991