Row Boat is a post-rock / ambient solo project by Mark Wardale. Mark cites several Scandinavian influences behind Row Boat, including classical Nordic sounds and current musical acts such as Sigur Ros, Bjork and Agent Fresco. Mark describes Row Boat as, “an effort to depict the nature of Scandinavia in note form.” The result is a lush, ethereal ambience created from a merging of organic strings, horns, bowed guitar work, drums and bass.
Row Boat’s first release was the 2009 ambient E.P. “Romance.” It was not until May 2012 when an unannounced second EP titled “Svaret är Ja,” [The Answer is Yes] surfaced. In 2013, Row Boat took to a busy year with the release of the first full length album, “Ett,” which received glowing reviews from critics globally. This was recently followed up in 2014 with the successful EP ‘Shallow Waters’. He has found his place under the gorgeous wings of Fluttery Records and he has been in the label since he made the contracts to release his upcoming album in 2014, called “In Between”.
Post-rock has become so varied and broad along the music spectrum that many people find it hard to explain these days. This would also explain Mark Wardale’s latest album release ‘In Between’. A mix of numbing piano sounds, ambience, subdued eclectronica and ‘dirty’ strings produce the different shades that make up the light and dark of romance in note form. New sounds and feelings are evoked whilst a sense of familiarity lingers and comforts.
‘In Between’ was an idea, an interpretation of romance, written in note form for listeners to relate to in a different and unexpected way. Love can have so many meanings, good, bad, confusing. This album was written to show not just the light side, but the darker and unexplored sides of romance.
What makes the album so unique is the creative collaboration between musician ‘Mark Wardale’ and writer, reviewer and all round music lover ‘Daniela Patrizi’ on ‘In Between’ to create the perfect artwork and imagery in reference to the music.
The 40 minutes of music itself meets all listening expectations, from the strong and empowering piano’s and ambiance of ‘Meet me at the Colosseum’ and ‘Later That Day’, to the darker edgy and more reflective songs like “The Dying Art of Romance” and “Hollow.”