Mary Lattimore's "Chop on the Climbout"

The short story behind Mary Lattimore’s “Chop on the Climbout” has been told, but I recently asked her about it anyway, curious if there was something more specific to discover. You’ll hear the song in episode six of _____ mood.

“The title comes from a pilot announcing on the intercom, “there’s going to be light chop on the climb out on our ascent,” she said. “I think he really said “climb out” but I thought climbout was a word. It was a specific flight, but I can’t remember which one.”

“Chop on the Climbout” is on Mary Lattimore’s Silver Ladders, an album produced by Neil Halstead of Slowdive and released by Ghostly International in the autumn of 2020. 

The album is a personal favourite from 2020. The songs are distinctly imprinted with Neil Halstead’s touch of guitar and distortion, conversing with the clean, crisp sounds of Mary Lattimore’s harp. The low, warm, almost ceremonial hum of “Chop on the Climbout” eventually gives way to a white-light wash of peaked-out static - not unlike the moment a plane passes through the cloud cover.

If the IG feed of @maryoverthere is any indication, and I think it must be, she is well travelled and performs in all sorts of interesting places, sharing her appreciative eye for local culture and beauty. 

AND.. SHE IS A FAN OF ROBERT SMITH AND THE CURE [all caps, in the spirit of you know who]. I confirmed this with her and asked what an important album or song for her was.

“The Cure’s Disintegration is my life’s touchstone!”

Thank you for a wonderful and unique collection of songs, Mary and Neil.

You can find Mary Lattimore on Bandcamp - she has a couple of shows coming up in Aug and Sep 2023 on the West and East coasts of the US.

Join the conversation about the song over on _____ mood.'s Insta.