Guitarist Nathanael Larochette of Musk Ox and The Night Watch fame is here to show off his gorgeous acoustic rendition of Agalloch's 2002 track "In the Shadow of Our Pale Companion". Larochette is no stranger to Agalloch, having contributed classical guitar parts to the band's final album The Serpent & The Sphere in 2014.
"Anyone who knows Agalloch's music can agree that 'In The Shadow Of Our Pale Companion' is one of their most iconic songs. When I first heard it back in 2003, it completely blew me away, just as it has for fans around the world since its release. When someone suggested I do a solo arrangement from The Mantle, I casually began playing around with this piece, not really believing a song this layered and epic could work on a solo instrument.
"However, as the arrangement took shape its magic was revealed because even in its starkest form, the progressions and melodies retained all their majesty and wonder. When the arrangement was complete, I realized that the song's deep feelings of solitude translated beautifully to solo guitar. At its core, it's a piece about wandering alone, with the notes of the classical guitar at times feeling like solemn, weary footsteps.
"It still amazes me that twenty years since discovering it, this song has lost none of its beauty and I sincerely hope that fans of the band will enjoy my interpretation of this legendary composition. Huge thanks to my brother Simon Larochette for his engineering/mixing skills, Phil Bova for his fantastic mastering and, of course, massive thanks to Agalloch for all the years of inspiration."
Larochette recently released his new solo album Old Growth, which you can get here.
