Windows in the Sky

The album Windows in the Sky was written as Foster was in a complete state of isolation in Tangier, Morocco. He went there following the death of his father, a firm believer who died of cancer. His trip was meant to be of four weeks during which he would write the next album of his band Your Favorite Enemies. It turned into 2 years and he wrote what became Windows in the Sky.{{Cite web |url=https://americansongwriter.com/alex-henry-foster-windows-in-the-sky/|title=Alex Henry Foster Pushes Through 'Windows In The Sky' |work=American Songwriter|date=March 27, 2020}}

Windows in the Sky was written and composed in Tangier, Morocco in a recording space Foster and his bandmates put together to work on the creation of his solo record in 2018.{{Cite web |url=https://www.lci.fr/international/week-end-a-tanger-3212-2093880.html|title=Week-end à Tanger|website=LCI|date=21 July 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://guitargirlmag.com/news/gear-news/your-favorite-enemies-making-friends-and-music-in-morocco-and-relying-on-radial-gear/|title=Your Favorite Enemies making friends (and music) in Morocco and relying on Radial gear|first=G. G. M.|last=Staff|date=July 13, 2018}} Additional recording sessions and the mix of the album took place at Foster's studio, The Upper Room, established in a former Catholic church near Montréal, Canada.{{Cite web |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/alex-henry-foster-this-album-was-liberating-for-me-it-was-more-about-the-songs-than-the-performance|title=Alex Henry Foster: "This album was liberating for me - it was more about the songs than the performance"|first=Alex Lynham 08|last=April 2020|website=guitarworld|date=8 April 2020}} This is also where they have settled the headquarters of their independent record label, Hopeful Tragedy Records, since 2009. Additional recordings also took place in Foster's home studio in Virginia, United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.silentradio.co.uk/04/18/interview-alex-henry-foster-melding-elements-of-sonic-youth-slint-mogwai-glenn-branca-into-his-own-epic-soundscapes-on-exciting-debut-solo-album/|title=INTERVIEW: ALEX HENRY FOSTER – MELDING ELEMENTS OF SONIC YOUTH, SLINT, MOGWAI, GLENN BRANCA INTO HIS OWN EPIC SOUNDSCAPES ON EXCITING DEBUT SOLO ALBUM|access-date=August 12, 2021}}

{{track listing

| all_writing = Alex Henry Foster

| headline =

| title1 = The Pain That Bonds (The Beginning Is the End)

| length1 = 5:01

| title2 = Winter Is Coming In

| length2 = 7:45

| title3 = Shadows of Our Evening Tides

| note3 = Featuring: Excerpts of the poem "Song" recited by Allen Ginsberg

| length3 = 7:43

| title4 = The Hunter (By the Seaside Window)

| length4 = 14:36

| title5 = Snowflakes in July

| length5 = 7:18

| title6 = Summertime Departures

| length6 = 5:23

| title7 = Lavender Sky

| length7 = 6:17

| title8 = The Love That Moves (The End Is Beginning)

| length8 = 7:33

}}

{{track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus material

| total_length =

| title1 = The Son of Hannah [Live from Festival International de Jazz de Montréal July 5, 2019]

| length1 = 8:41

| title2 = Shadows of Our Evening Tides [Live from Festival International de Jazz de Montréal July 5, 2019]

| length2 = 19:25

| title3 = The Hunter (By the Seaside Window) [Live from Festival International de Jazz de Montréal July 5, 2019]

| length3 = 21:19

| title4 = Summertime Departures (Sometimes I Dream) [Live from Festival International de Jazz de Montréal July 5, 2019]

| length4 = 12:55

| title5 = Lavender Sky [Live from Festival International de Jazz de Montréal July 5, 2019]

| length5 = 6:25

}}

Foster says that Windows in the Sky had been released without any ambition. Despite the lack of promotion before its release, the album reached the top of the iTunes{{Cite web |url=http://www.itunescharts.net/can/artists/music/alex-henry-foster/albums/windows-in-the-sky/|title=iTunesCharts.net: 'Windows in the Sky' by Alex Henry Foster (Canadian Albums iTunes Chart) |website=www.itunescharts.net}} and the Canadian charts on its first week of release. On July 5, 2019, Foster and his band were invited to perform at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2019/04/08/alex-henry-foster-au-festival-de-jazz-de-montreal|title=Alex Henry Foster au Festival de jazz de Montréal|website=TVA Nouvelles}} Soon after, Alex Henry Foster and his band received the invitation to join ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead on their 2020 winter European tour.

Windows in the Sky garnered press coverage across Canada with TV channels such as CBC News{{Cite web|url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/tele/le-tjextra-estrie/site/episodes/437258/episode-du-28-juin-2019|title=Radio-Canada.ca | Information, radio, télé, sports, Arts et divertissement|first=Groupe des Nouveaux|last=Médias|website=Radio-Canada}} and Le Canal Nouvelles (LCN){{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyLt3W8WTDI|title=Entrevue d'Alex Henry Foster à LCN en direct.|access-date=August 12, 2021|via=www.youtube.com}} inviting Foster in their studios. Other Canadian media such as La Presse,{{Cite web |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/arts/musique/201906/29/01-5232087-alex-henry-foster-un-succes-fait-maison-.php|title=Alex Henry Foster: un succès fait maison|date=June 29, 2019|website=La Presse}} Journal de Québec,{{Cite web|url=https://www.journaldequebec.com/2018/11/20/alex-henry-foster-un-succes-inattendu|title=Alex Henry Foster: un succès inattendu|first=Cédric |last=Bélanger |website=Journal de Québec}} Vancouver Sun,{{Cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/music/5-things-to-know-about-windows-in-the-sky-by-alex-henry-foster|title=5 things to know about Windows in the Sky by Alex Henry Foster|website=vancouversun|access-date=August 12, 2021}} and the SOCAN magazine Words & Music,{{Cite web|url=https://www.socanmagazine.ca/features/alex-henry-foster-a-communion-for-the-present-moment/ |title=Alex Henry Foster: A communion for the present moment|date=January 23, 2020|website=SOCAN Words and Music}} also talked about this album.

On an international scale, Guitar World described Windows in the Sky as "a cathartic mix of post-rock and noise-rock". Prog depicted it as "a furious storm of noise with raw, shouted vocals".{{quote without source|date=August 2021}}

The English magazine Echoes And Dust said that Windows in the Sky "will certainly feature in more than a few end of year lists when that time comes back around".{{Cite web

|url=https://www.echoesanddust.com/2020/04/alex-henry-foster-windows-in-the-sky/|title=Alex Henry Foster - Windows in the Sky|date=21 April 2020}}

The album reached No. 6 on the Canadian Billboard on the second week of its release.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

{{awards table}}

|-

| 2019

| Windows in the Sky

| Anglophone Album of the Year

| {{nom}}

|}

File:Summertime Departures.jpg

On January 17, 2020, Alex Henry Foster released a first EP for the single "Summertime Departures".{{Cite web|url=http://thisisthelatest.com/alex-henry-foster-teases-his-upcoming-album-with-release-of-lead-single-summertime-departures/|title=ALEX HENRY FOSTER TEASES HIS UPCOMING ALBUM WITH RELEASE OF LEAD SINGLE 'SUMMERTIME DEPARTURES'|first=Rebecca|last=Haslam|date=January 16, 2020}} It was released on streaming services as well as through a limited edition vinyl cut at Foster's record label Hopeful Tragedy Records' creative atelier, The Fabrik. On the same day, he released a videoclip featuring a live performance of the song at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal.{{Cite web|url=https://madnesstocreation.net/2020/01/20/music-video-review-summertime-departures-sometimes-i-dream-by-alex-henry-foster/|title=(Music Video Review) "Summertime Departures/Sometimes I Dream" by ALEX HENRY FOSTER|date=January 20, 2020|website=Madness To Creation}}{{cite web | url=https://glidemagazine.com/238404/video-song-premiere-alex-henry-foster-your-favorite-enemies-churns-out-audacious-summertime-departures/ | title=VIDEO/SONG PREMIERE: Alex Henry Foster (Your Favorite Enemies) Churns Out Audacious "Summertime Departures" | date=15 January 2020 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rebelnoise.com/articles/video-premiere-summertime-departures-and-sometimes-i-dream-live-by-alex-hen|title=Video Premiere: "Summertime Departures" and "Sometimes I Dream" (live) by Alex Henry Foster - Rebel Noise|website=www.rebelnoise.com}}

{{track listing

| all_writing = Alex Henry Foster

| headline =

| title1 = Summertime Departures

| length1 = 5:23

| title2 = Summertime Departures (Radio Edit)

| length2 = 3:43

| title3 = Summertime Departures (Sometimes I Dream)

| note3 = Live from the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

| length3 = 13:01

}}

File:The Hunter (By the Seaside Window) EP Cover.jpg

On March 13, 2020, a second EP was released for the song "The Hunter (By the Seaside Window)", on streaming services. It was also made available as a limited edition vinyl produced in Foster's record label's creative atelier. The launching of the EP was followed by the release of a short film in the likes of David Lynch. It was filmed in Montréal, Canada and produced in collaboration with Jessie Nottola, a French artist who also worked with Tinariwen, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Arthur H.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Alex-Henry-Foster-Shares-Video-for-The-Hunter-By-the-Seaside-Window-20200401|title=Alex Henry Foster Shares Video for 'The Hunter (By the Seaside Window)'|first=TV News|last=Desk|website=BroadwayWorld.com}}

{{track listing

| all_writing = Alex Henry Foster

| headline =

| title1 = The Hunter (By the Seaside Window)

| length1 = 14:33

| title2 = The Hunter (Radio Edit)

| length2 = 3:40

| title3 = The Hunter (By the Seaside Window)

| note3 = Live from the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal

| length3 = 21:07

}}

File:Ahf lavender sky ep cover.jpg

On June 19, 2020, a third EP was released for the song "Lavender Sky", on streaming services. It was also made available as a limited edition vinyl. The handmade vinyl was the object of Alex Henry Foster & The Long Shadows' very first direct-to-vinyl, which consisted of a live performance of the song "Lavender Sky", performed live from his studio-church near Montreal, Canada, on June 14, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ccmmagazine.com/news/alex-henry-foster-to-host-direct-to-vinyl-live-performance/|title=StackPath|website=www.ccmmagazine.com|access-date=August 12, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.montrealrocks.ca/alex-henry-foster-direct-to-vinyl-performance/|title=Attention Vinyl Collectors - Alex Henry Foster - Direct-to-Vinyl Performance|date=June 10, 2020|website=Montreal Rocks|access-date=August 12, 2021}} On June 26, 2020, he released a videoclip filmed in Iceland for the song "Lavender Sky". It was premiered and acclaimed by BrooklynVegan{{Cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/alex-henry-foster-the-long-shadows-debut-lavender-sky-video/|title=Alex Henry Foster & The Long Shadows debut "Lavender Sky" video|website=BrooklynVegan|access-date=August 12, 2021}} and talked about by British magazine NME.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/watch-alex-henry-fosters-new-video-for-lavender-sky-2696502|title=Watch Alex Henry Foster's new video for 'Lavender Sky'|website=NME|date=July 1, 2020|access-date=August 12, 2021}}

{{track listing

| all_writing = Alex Henry Foster

| headline =

| title1 = Lavender Sky

| length1 = 6:17

| title2 = Lavender Sky (Radio Edit)

| length2 = 4:00

| title3 = Lavender Sky (Live from the Upper Room Studio, June 14, 2020)

| length3 = 17:28

}}

File:Ahf snowflakes in july ep cover.jpg

On July 26, 2020, Alex Henry Foster and his band The Long Shadows performed the song "Snowflakes in July" taken from the album "Windows in the Sky". Their live performance was broadcast live from their studio-church near Montreal, Canada, through BrooklynVegan,{{Cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/alex-henry-foster-livestreaming-direct-to-vinyl-again-in-july/|title=Alex Henry Foster livestreaming direct-to-vinyl again in July|website=BrooklynVegan|access-date=August 12, 2021}} and turned into a collector direct-to-vinyl crafted in the band's independent record label's facilities.

On August 7, 2020, the EP, Snowflakes in July, was released worldwide. This fourth EP of the series marked the end of the album journey.

{{track listing

| all_writing = Alex Henry Foster

| headline =

| title1 = Snowflakes in July

| length1 = 7:17

| title2 = Snowflakes in July (Radio Edit)

| length2 = 4:20

| title3 = Snowflakes in July (Live from The Upper Room Studio, July 26, 2020)

| length3 = 16:51

}}

{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2018 debut albums

Category:Alex Henry Foster albums