The idea that Landour might end up as a one-off project, a spur-of-the-moment affair that was a result of the right people being in the right time and right place is a bittersweet one for sure.
Landour’s origin story might be a complicated, globe-crossing one, but it is certainly as smooth, inspiring, and as organic as the song itself. The story goes that Karan x Anoop, a producer-duo, were trekking in the forests of the Himalayan town of Landour, India, when suddenly an exotic scent took them to a land far far away, far removed from the hectic and stressful world we live in, then they poured this inspiration into the song we’re hearing right now right after they returned to their Airbnb, then the song was sent to vocalist and producer Chris Savor when he was vacationing from his homeland in the UK to Sardinia, he liked the sounds and immediately got to work. The last chapter was added by the producer duo’s longtime friend and collaborator, Aditya Pamnani, an actor, who immediately got, too, to work on a beautiful accompanying video, backed by a talent crew, painting a beautiful picture with the chosen locations, the dazzling, luxurious colors, and the fantastic performance of all those involved.
Now you and I might have our theories about the origin of this mysterious scent, but there is no denying that Landour is a terrific piece of music. Borrowing from the organic-sounding chill-wave electronics of Bonobo, The soulful is shock full of sensation and pure, atmospheric vibes. The production is granular and airy, the grand sounds of the synths are well-chosen and the mix is a great affair. Chris Savor’s performance is effervescent and effortless, calling to mind the similarly named ambient soul legends Ry X and Rhye, while doing his own spin on the style, and the result is an inspired sound that vitalizes and soothes at the exact same moment.
Whether this illustrious group of artists will ever come together again for more music is unknown. It’s possible of course, but whether the stars will align to create a piece that’s as inspired and as wholesome as Landour again, that’s what’s unlikely. So, let’s take a moment to celebrate the fact that this beauty exists.