Post-classical music from Clarice Jensen (for cello and electronics) and Joana Gama & Luís Fernandes (for piano, electronics and orchestra).
The Pitch & Splitter Orchestra demonstrate how a ‘frozen orchestra’ might sound.
Cello music to enjoy the quietness and calm of hidden moments: by Danny Norbury & Ian Hawgood and Aaron Martin
‘Borderlands’ is an extended meditation for multitracked cellos recorded by cellist William Mace. The composition ‘comprises of six interludes and six extended panels, each comprising twenty-eight short melodic fragments. Each panel uses the same fragments to form new melodies and harmonies.” – but for the listener it feels – and can be enjoyed – as one single uninterrupted piece.
A piece in which every single detail has its place, a piece that conveys that everything is as it should be. A very, very comforting piece.
With core members Ian Hawgood (electronics), Danny Norbury(cello), Clem Leek (piano), and Tim Martin (Maps and Diagrams, electronics), Black Elk could be regarded as a post-classical/ambient “Supergroup”.
In 2012, their first album“Sparks“ was released, a beautiful collection of atmospheric tracks in various styles.
For their recent Japan tour (december 2013) a collection of “Sketches” was assembled on five different (CDR) albums, containing outtakes, unfinished tracks, live performances and … sketches!
With only a few releases, the relatively new Moscow-based label Dronarivm found its status as one of contemporary ambient music’s most important labels.
With the release of “Day Has Ended“, with Aaron Martin and Christoph Berg contributing four tracks each, that status is definitely confirmed – if not enhanced.
In its relatively short existence (almost 4 years), the Hibernate label has presented us with many beautiful releases and positioned themselves as one of the most important independent labels at the very centre of the ‘ambient’ music scene. Or – since it’s increasingly difficult to use the word ‘ambient’ as a genre definition: music “both abstract and melodic but always with a hint of melancholy.”
The Hibernate label kicked off in 2009 with a release that set a high standard immediately: “Wolfskin“, by Ian Hawgood – well-known for his own music as well as from the labels he curates: Home Normal and Koen Music.
Hibernate and Koen Music (KoMu) now present a 2-CD set revisiting the original “Wolfskin” release, called “Wolven – A Modern Reinterpretation”.
Cello + Laptop first got my attention with their beautiful track, “The Hunt”, featured on the “Escala 2.3” compilation.
This Spanish duo, consisting of Sara Galán (Cello) and Edu Comelles (Laptop) have now released their full debut album on the Envelope Collective label (“The label that is always slipping in the fold of the wave”).
“Parallel Paths“ easily exceeds the (high!) expectation I had based on the single track I knew from Escala 2.3.
Hildur Gudnadóttir ‘s latest release on the Touch label features two tracks: the 4 minute introduction (“Prelude”) and the 35 minute title track: “Leyfdu Ljósinu” .
The track division seems is somewhat artificial, since the “Prelude“ closing chord seamlessly introduces the start of the main title track.
This recording is in fact a “live” recording (with no audience present. which means no distractive audience sounds).
It’s “just” Hildur performing over her multi-track recordings – no “post tampering” was applied afterwards.
As the musical part of the “Landtonen” festival in november 2009, “Herfsttonen” (Autumn Sounds) celebrated the local district of “Okkenbroek“, near Deventer (in Holland).
This may sound as if it is interesting to local citizens only.
Not true! – That would mean the large part of the world would miss this great project!
The three compositions presented here are very different from each other, but they are linked by the theme, and by the environmental sounds of Okkenbroek. This album deserves to be heard out of the local context, too, because it is dedicated to preserving the kind of rural life that may disappear all too quickly.
