Close Up and Far Away Bob Holroyd & Simon Painter

• 1 Close Up and Far Away 05:01
• 2 All Over Again 03:28
• 3 A Tear in the Sky 04:20
• 4 Unquiet Mind 04:13
• 5 A Change of Perspective 04:32
• Total Runtime 21:34

Info for Close Up and Far Away

Bob Holroyd and Simon Painter announce a new five-track EP called ‘Close Up and Far Away’ to be released on Real World X on 31 July, 2026.

These five instrumental pieces are a reflection on mortality. Life experiences seem to stretch out into the distance, yet as you live through more of them, time seems to compress. The moment we are in right now is so fleeting and then it is gone, unattainably consigned to the past even though it happened just a second ago.

Of the new piece, Bob and Simon say: “All Over Again is a small and intimate piece about our place in this world and the ongoing cyclical nature of things.”

And on the EP more generally: “We have both been through traumatic events in our lives where in a single moment, happiness and contentment suddenly become something that seems so far away. The passing of loved ones is an example of these one-way doors where, in an instant, what was close and present is now so far away. Looking back at these thoughts of how transient life is and how quickly things change we felt now was the time to release this EP because if not now, when?”

“Each piece in the project is a spacious and gradually unfurling work offering a space for pause and thought in an increasingly loud and frenetic world that asks the listener to go on an emotional journey with us, and themselves.”

Together, Bob and Simon have co-written numerous pieces that blend ambient space, emotional depth and thoughtful sound design from reflective underscores to richly layered soundscapes. Alongside their studio collaborations, Bob and Simon have spent recent years developing audio-visual performances, combining Bob’s evolving compositions with Simon’s bespoke video creations. These live works explore the relationship between sound, image, space and emotion, allowing music to be experienced both intimately and expansively.

Bob Holroyd & Simon Painter

Bob Holroyd
is one of the UK’s most respected ambient and experimental composers, with a body of work spanning atmospheric albums, production music and cinematic soundscapes. His music has been licensed for major TV and film, remixed by artists such as Four Tet, Coldcut and Mogwai, and reflects influences from global travel and eclectic sonic cultures.

Simon Painter
is a seasoned composer and producer with over 30 years’ experience crafting evocative themes and textures for production music and collaborative projects. Most notable of these have been producing Carter USM including their number one album in 1992 and 20 years creating music for UK coverage of the Tour De France.

This album contains no booklet.