Alula Down - High Germany / Summer Song (7")

Tepid Toad Records is honored to share new music from the spellbinding avant-folk duo, Alula Down. “High Germany” and “Summer Song” are the latest blessings that have been gifted to us in this time of need. In these pieces, Alula Down weave their unmistakable tapestry of voice and gentle instrumentation, giving old stories and half-remembered dreams new life and a place to belong.

Both songs will be available on 7” lathe cut records for those who cherish the importance of physical media.

High Germany (Roud 904) is a love song and lament from European wars of the 1700s. The improvisation that follows is a lullaby, sung for all those whose lives are currently affected by war - ‘oh may your life, life of love, let there be only … love - as there is - at any other time’.

Summer Song originated as an improvisation - it was one of those days in mid-august when the days are warm and slow, and a sense of oneness / harmony amongst every thing is tangible.

‘from the hill, flying out - the sun, passing over - full and bounding along, fat as meadow grass, grassing off the sun, light, flight darting from the hedge - the shadows moving, a-long, the shadows flying from the, from the canopy … ripening up, up / under where the small birds sing loudly - the hedges full wilding now, sat plump, sat drunk with sun, fat with midday sunshine, that song - the warm day so long .. the warm day - long - weaves song, warm days so long and the song the earth sung was a song of the sun and it goes on … linger long, summer song, summer song…’ 

High Germany (trad). Sounds of children playing in rubble of Gaza for Eid holiday, April 2024.

Summer Song. A summer improvisation that became a song, with blackbird & wren, Common Hill, 2025.

Artwork and layout by Merit Fisher-Medrano