The title of Glen Foster’s latest album suggests that distance is a matter of perspective.
On April 24 the Nanaimo musician releases his new CD, entitled Not Far Away. Foster said it’s a phrase that appears in a couple songs on the album and lends itself to interpretation.
“Things can be close but they seem far away,” he said. “Or they can be very far away, like on the other side of the world, but if you have a personal connection, you still feel close.”
Foster came up with that title before physical distancing measures were put in place and it’s become an increasingly poignant notion as people are finding new ways of staying connected while staying apart.
A CD release concert is being held on April 24, with Foster presenting a performance recorded live in his living room and broadcast on his Facebook page. He’ll be available to respond to questions and comments through Facebook and Messenger during the show.
Foster describes Not Far Away as primarily a rock record, rounded out with some slower songs to change up the pace and give the collection of songs some variety. The record includes a bass slapping skiffle tune, a track with a string quartet interlude and a ballad with a harpist.
“I’m old-school, so I still think in terms of an album and sitting down and listening to 10 songs,” he said.
Some songs will be familiar to fans, as Foster’s included reworked versions of the tracks that appeared on last year’s EP, Party Out There Tonight. One song is now twice as long and includes a bass solo.
“It’ll be interesting for people that already had an introduction to those songs and they’ll hear them in a different light,” he said.
Foster said the diverse instrumentation and song styles make for an album that is not as incongruous as it may seem.
“From one perspective I might say they don’t fit in at all, but from the perspective of the songwriter I’m writing about things that are personal and important … even the theme of ‘not far away,’ they fit in perfectly,” he said. “So thematically they do, musically it’s an extreme contrast.”
WHAT’S ON … Glen Foster’s Not Far Away living room concert takes place on Facebook on Friday, April 24 at 4 p.m.
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