The Magnetic North is a British supergroup consisting of Simon Tong (The Verve, The Good, the Bad & the Queen), Gawain Erland Cooper, and Hannah Peel. Their work is characterized by a high-concept approach to 'place-based' music, often described as musical psychogeography.
Their debut, 'Orkney: Symphony of the Magnetic North' (2012), was inspired by a dream about an 18th-century Orcadian girl and serves as a sonic exploration of Cooper's homeland. This was followed by 'Prospect of Skelmersdale' (2016), which shifted focus to Tong's hometown, exploring its history as a hub for the Transcendental Meditation movement. Critically, they are lauded for their ability to merge traditional folk sensibilities with avant-garde field recordings and classical chamber arrangements. Their influence web connects the pastoral folk of the 1970s with modern post-rock and neoclassical movements. They occupy a unique cultural position as archivists of British identity, blending autobiography with local legend.
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