Music For The Gardens is a ten track ambient/electro-acoustic album written, performed and produced by Staffordshire based artist and composer Jon Aldersea with Singer/Songwriter and artist Andrew Hall playing acoustic, bass, lead and rhythm guitars, sitar and singing backing/harmony vocals.
The album, complete with a full colour 16 page pull-out booklet, is a musical and artistic testament to Aldersea's creative home of the last twelve years at Trentham Lakes & Gardens Leisure Estate in Staffordshire, England, UK, and captures the very spirit, essence and grace that has not only provided much of his own inspiration for the duration of time spent so far there, but surley by thousands of others too since when it was first opened to the public in the mid-twentieth century after centuries of being home to generations of the Sutherland Dynasty, right up to the current continuing regeneration scheme, it has been remaining features such as the old ballroom, miniature railway, Hollywood-style lido, the stunning Italian Garden’s and the woodland and lake that have become the much adored and adopted playgrounds of recreation for countless generations more, most notably the good people of the City Of Stoke-on-Trent, the county of Staffordshire and beyond. Over these years many fond memories of Trentham have been acquired, therefore with tracks like ‘Into The Garden’, ‘The Ballroom’ and ‘Song For The Seasons’, ‘Music For The Gardens’ provides a soundtrack that is rich in nostalgia evoking memories old and new of times spent in a place held with such affection in many hearts.
With its predominantly smooth, flowing instrumental arrangements and less occurring but just as deeply inspiring lyrics, the album reflects the tranquil and relaxing beauty of the Italian Gardens and Lake at Trentham and with other tracks such as ‘Angel Of The Flowers’, ‘Perseus & Medusa’ and ‘Eastern Pleasure Ground’ captures a spirit and heritage so rich in relevance to North Staffordshire culture.
‘Music For The Gardens’ by Jon Aldersea is available to buy from the visitor centre on the retail village at Trentham or from Hanley Museum in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, UK.
Above are full versions of four tracks from the album as a taster...please enjoy.