Gifts From Crows is the project of British composer and pianist Richard Laurence, known also as the the guitarist and songwriter in Sea Horses, a dark-folk music collective from the early 90s; he has also recorded 3 albums with acclaimed producer Dave Goodman for Mandala Records.

He has released the debut album called Holding a Thought Forever which explores the pain and sorrow of losing someone so close then reflecting on and rediscovering what is important in life. Recorded during the enforced lockdown of the Coronavirus pandemic, the album addresses our individual and collective relationship with nature in a world where life is increasingly precarious.

According to the press release, It is a hauntingly beautiful collection of piano instrumentals augmented with samples, electronics and string arrangements. With roots in electronic and rock music, Gifts From Crows’ neoclassical emergence was born from the return of a family heirloom – a piano. The first notes of the album were played on an instrument that was returned later in life and thus the project began to develop.

Speaking about the instrument, he says, “This piano has been in my family for well over 100 years. As a child I remember sitting at the piano with my foot permanently pressing the sustain pedal and letting its rich sound envelop me – my own private cathedral. I always compose on this instrument. That feeling has never left me.”

Today we have the pleasure to share the official video of the track “As Nature Returns“. He explains: “This piece of music was written 1 month into the coronavirus lockdown. As the world economy was brought to a standstill, it gave us all a chance to re-evaluate our relationship with nature. In Europe it was spring and so we saw nature returning and many of us noticed things we had not properly seen since childhood.

For a brief time, it felt like nature was making a come-back after decades of industrial pollution and population growth had caused huge damage to the environment. It made us think about the sort of world we want to live in but it also reminded us that, once mankind is gone, then nature will reclaim the cities once more.

Watch it below.