Canon Blue releases his debut album, Colonies, through Danish label Rumraket.

Canon Blue is the moniker of American musician Daniel James, an artist curiously fascinated by the history of colonialism.

Similarly to Daniel’s own life of travel, the music of ‘Colonies’ staunchly refuses to be pinpointed. It is a dizzying cocoon of new-folk, eccentric-pop and space-rock sensibilities, wrapped warmly with a strong electronic influence.

Composed on his grandmother’s upright piano and mixed by Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor, Daniel’s debut is a direct response to a history of events that encompass a period of tragedy and distress, all beguilingly collated in a record of great depth, hope and intrigue.

Born and raised in Virginia, Daniel made a brief and unfortunate move to England. After dropping out of University, and desperately trying to obtain a visa for an extended stay by working at a charity in Bristol, he cut his losses and headed back to America.

In January 2005, he settled himself in New Orleans, playing guitar in a band. His new home, stooped in musical heritage, proved a welcome source of inspiration.

However, the love affair was short lived, having recently lost a close friend to drowning off the Alaskan coast, and with the band following apart Daniel decided to head back to Virginia. It was just two weeks later that cacophonic flooding destroyed New Orleans. Daniel watched the chaos unfurl on the television in his parents’ living room.

“Being back home in Virginia when it hit was surreal… Having this weird disconnect as you do when you experience things on television from the comfort of your living room...”

“In a way, it's what finally pushed me to the point that I knew I had to respond. It was like this horrific and tragic bookend to a really disheartening experience that I had had there...”

He responded by building a studio in his bedroom in an effort to combat the overactive thoughts filling his mind. Drawing inspiration from the music of Claude Debussy, Cristian Vogel, and Tom Waits, Daniel began to piece together songs using his grandmother’s upright piano. Playing virtually every instrument on the album himself, a rounded sound took a very vivid shape.

Citing the likes of Bjork and Boards Of Canada as well as the writers Flannery O’Connor and Rainer Maria Rilke as key influences, ‘Colonies’ started out as a cathartic process, but has developed into a beautifully structured, layered record of devastating prowess.

In January 2007, Canon Blue was signed to Danish label Rumraket (run by Efterklang, and boasting a roster that includes Amiina, Kama Aina, Taxi Taxi! and Grizzly Bear) and now finally in September and October 2007 this spectacular album finds its release. ’Colonies’ was mixed by the much-revered Chris Taylor (of Grizzly Bear) and mastered by Cristian Vogel (acclaimed solo-artist, Radiohead remixer, Chicks on Speed producer and more).

Canon Blue currently resides in Nashville.