Vega Trails

Inspired by the breathtaking landscape of the Sierra de Guadarrama, northwest of Madrid, Milo Fitzpatrick presents his latest album Sierra Tracks. A founding member of Portico Quartet, he adds a new dimension to his cinematic, chamber jazz sounds with his project Vega Trails. Building on his intimate debut album Tremors in the Static, the album is enriched by the sounds of piano, vibraphone, strings and cello. “The nature here has strongly influenced my music,” says Milo. “The colours, the light and the immense space of the landscape are a constant source of inspiration.”

For Sierra Tracks, Milo worked with an extensive cast of musicians, including multi-instrumentalist Jordan Smart, of Mammal Hands fame, and vibraphone specialist Harriet Riley. He also returned to playing cello, adding an extra layer to his sound. The string arrangements, inspired by a collaboration with Hania Rani, give the album a majestic, cinematic quality. The result is a series of tracks that reflect the vastness of the mountains and the power of nature, such as the opening track Largo and the dreamy Reverie.

More than just a musical project, Sierra Tracks is also a personal story about mental health and recovery. Milo explores how the physical world – walking or running through nature – can help find peace and clarity in a chaotic mind. This album is an ode to the connection between people, nature and music: a medicine for body and mind.