New release! 'Changeling' by Changeling

arranmcsporran
Apr 25
3 min read

'Changeling', the debut album from the 'supergroup' of the same name is out now on all streaming services and as a Physical Vinyl/CD release through Season of Mist! Physical Bass Transcription Books (and additional merch) are available for pre-order from the Changeling BigCartel page and digital books will be available imminently through my WebStore - and some bass playthroughs will be going live on YouTube soon!

I finished recording my parts in May 2022, filmed the music videos (which you can watch at the bottom of this post) in March 2023 and now the album is finally seeing the light of day in 2025! Originally conceived as a new 'Fountainhead' solo album, the project has evolved to being a 'band' release. You can listen to, download and order physical copies from the Changeling Bandcamp page:

https://changelingofficial.bandcamp.com/album/changeling

This album has also just pushed my Arran McSporran (Official) Spotify playlist to exactly 200 songs! I'd prefer if you bought a physical or download copy of the album (and listen in higher quality), but I understand Spotify is where most people are consuming music right now if you choose to listen there. Alternatively you can also listen to the full album stream on YouTube:

I recorded all the tracks with my Carillion 6-string fretless (apart from about 24 bars where I used her fretted 'twin'), with Bartolini pickups and Rotosound RS66 roundwound strings, straight into my Focusrite interface. The album also uses 4 different tunings (BEADGC, BEADGB, AEADGB, ADGCFA) and during the song Abyss the song modulates up a quarter-tone and back again - see if you can spot when!

The album features an amazing list of collaborators, with the main composer/instigator being the incredible Tom 'Fountainhead' Geldschläger (ex-Obscura, Amogh Symphony, Belphegor, Defeated Sanity) on Fretted & fretless electric & acoustic guitars, oud, keyboards, composition and arrangements.

The album lineup of the band 'Changeling' is rounded out with me on bass, Mike Heller (ex-Fear Factory, Malignancy, Raven) on Drums and Morean (Alkaloid, Dark Fortress) on Lead vocals & lyrics.

Some incredible additional names that are featured on the album include:

Bill Hudson (Trans-siberian Orchestra, Doro, I am Morbid) - Guest guitar solo

Jason Gobel (ex-Cynic, ex-Monstrosity)- Guest guitar solo

Andy Laroque (ex-Death, King Diamond) - Guest guitar solo

Yatziv Caspi (ex-Orphaned Land) - Tabla, hangdrum, dabouka, riq & shakers

Ally Storch (Subway To Sally) - Violins, viola & cello

James Dorton (The Faceless, NeObliviscaris, Black Crown Initate) - Spoken words

Alexander Kerski (Vianova) - Backing & harmony vocals

Plus many more, who can be seen in the album artwork and on the Bandcamp page

Reviews have so far been beyond expectations with their positivity and high scores, and I'm looking forward to seeing if the album makes as much of an impact as they seem to be implying that it could make, which is very exciting!

This is the final album of my 'Covid 6' to be released. These were 6 albums that I recorded in the below order within about 2 years during the Covid pandemic and which kept me sane while no gigs were happening (click for the related blog posts):

And in between these I recorded the Void Mother, Jeff Hughell and Cosmitorium singles, the Calf Parade and Matt Appleby EPs, AND released instrumental versions of the Demonstealer album and first Utopia album Stalker!