This album was created from music written over many years, in fact the piece Love in a Cold Climate was one of Dmytro's original compositions written when he was at University. It was called White Room back then, a reference to the White Album by the Beatles, and was a contemplative piece. However, there was never an opportunity to use the piece. It was submitted to a composition competition but was unsucessful. It then remained in Dmytro's head until it was revived and played for a production company in Vienna. Dmytro decided to rename it for a song about Nancy Mitford who wrote the book 'Love in a Cold Climate' which was a reference to a line in Orwell's 'Keep the Aspidistra Flying.' However, the song was never developed beyond an idea. Now living in rural Scotland, the title seemed to be appropriate for his current situation and he decided it would make a good album title.
When creating the new album, Dmytro compiled a collection of his pieces both old and new which he felt held an underlying melancholy and sense of loss. Some of these pieces deal with uncomfortable issues but in a conciliatory way. The whole idea of trying to relive and recapture something that has gone but can still be 'tasted.'Oil and Water is about two elements that come together but cannot be together for reasons beyond their control, however, their separation creates beauty and each element continues to exist alongside the other.
This album includes the first full recording of Chess. Various parts have been used in many projects including a wildlife film. Again it was originally called Louis for the group 'Suppos I Laugh' because the lyrics by Maggie Cronin were about a young soldier in the Falklands war and it was an ironic comment on the 'Glory of War' (Louis XiV). Much later it was changed to Chess to reference Dmytro's daughter, Francesca, whos nickname is Chess. It was used for a concert alongside Charlie Chaplin's 'The Immigrant' at a local film festival in Comrie, and this was when the new introduction was added. It is also used in the concert which is performed alongside Fritz Lang's Metropolis.
Blue Sky Boy originates back to the 1970s and was one of the first pieces Dmytro composed which remained. It was tried with various instruments before Dmytro finalised it for piano. The main theme is the original but the walking base was added more recently for a dedication to a friend's wedding, hence the title which was a reference to their personal term of endearment.
