Keith Seatman

"I remember when at school on the last day of term, all the class would bring games in to play, but it always seemed that no one really knew the rules or could fathom out how to play some of them. However, a lot of the games had interesting artwork and fantastic layouts with all sorts of cards and paraphernalia, which I really enjoyed. Around the same time I received a magic set for Christmas. The packaging, images, type, colours on the box and instructions were wonderful. I would entertain members of the family over the festive period with my conjuring skills. My family would humour me by clapping at the end of every really obvious trick and then make excuses to leave the room.

"A few years back a friend gave me a great book on old Firework packaging, labels etc. The colour, wonderful images and names (Martian Ray, Fireball, Silver Rain, Lightning Chaser) were so evocative. I remembered that every November I would be taken to a fantastic local shop that was packed with fireworks encased under smudged and fingerprint stained grubby glass. A highlight of the year. Memories of magic tricks, bizarre board games and amazing looking fireworks, all began to come together to feed and inform a growing idea for another album. Not so much a concept album but one very loosely based around some of the above and much more..." - Keith Seatman