Author Archives: Arcana

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About Arcana

My name is Ben Hogwood, editor of the Arcana music site (arcana.fm)

On Record – Herbert & Momoko: Clay (Strut / Accidental)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

This is an intriguing collaboration between the multi-skilled producer and instrumentalist Matthew Herbert, and drummer / vocalist Momoko Gill. Clay is the result of a musical relationship begun in 2024 with the song Fallen.

Typically for Herbert releases there are some intriguing sound sources involved, with live improvisation and sampling paired with the use of instruments ranging from kotos to basketballs. In the words of the Bandcamp commentary, “Clay treads nimbly between the dancefloor and the more introspective moods of the early hours”.

What’s the music like?

Intriguing at the very least, and often touching on the sweet spot between the end of the night and the start of the morning, capturing a rarefied set of sounds.

Gill’s pure voice conjures memories of Sade on occasion, and with sensitive and creative drumming proves the ideal foil to Herbert’s creative production. As the album progresses the songs only get better and more substantial.

Mowing is reminiscent of early Herbert, with its ‘kitchen sink’ percussion paired with a sonorous vocal, and so is Fallen Again, a particularly beautiful number. Drums and vocals – upper and lower registers – trade off to good effect on More And More, while the vocals dovetail nicely with minimal accompaniment on the short Heart.

Animals pairs flickering riffs from percussion and keyboard with the voice, but the longer songs are even more effective, developing in hypnotic fashion. Fallen Again is definitely one of those, while Circle Shore, by contrast, proves to be a thoughtful coda led by Gill’s drums.

Does it all work?

It does, though where you listen is key, as sometimes the level dips on headphones and the intricate production cannot be fully appreciated. When at their peak, though, Gill and Herbert are frequently compelling.

Is it recommended?

Yes. With such creative minds in play the results could never be less than interesting, and with Clay Matthew Herbert and Momoko Gill have created a bewitching and seductive album.

For fans of… Jamie Lidell, M J Cole, Roisin Murphy, Dani Siciliano

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,597 – Wednesday 16 July 2025

Let’s Dance – Adam Beyer: Explorer Vol. 1 (Drumcode)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Artist albums from established DJs in house and techno are relatively rare these days, which is one of a few explanations for Adam Beyer’s first album in over 20 years.

Swedish DJ Beyer runs the Drumcode label, but the title Explorer Vol.1 reflects a desire to explore different approaches and styles within and beyond techno.

What’s the music like?

Right from the start it is clear that a lot of thought as gone into this, and even though Explorer is an artist album it also works as an unmixed DJ set.

Beyer works the ebb and flow of the beats and breakdowns perfectly, keeping the listener’s attention with a wide range of material but getting the feet engaged at every opportunity too.

After the introduction, Taking Back Control has a good vocal, while Alto, with Layton Giordani, uses the familiar “What were the clouds like when you were young?” sample before a sturdy beat kicks in, courtesy of his collaborator.

Elsewhere, Explorer has real attitude, while Desolate Lands, a collaboration with Chris Avantgarde, stands out with its brilliant, roughed-up bass. Tanit adds a strong breaks undercarriage, Beyer getting a fine blend between styles with one eye straying towards the Mediterranean. Meanwhile The Distance Between Us has proper bite to it, a clash of styles that is definitely the sum of its parts. Finally The Long Way Home, like Tanit a track rescued from Beyer’s pre-COVID writing, is a cracker with which to end.

Does it all work?

It does – no skipping here! The beats are brilliant, too.

Is it recommended?

Very much so. An exciting new chapter of Adam Beyer’s career, Explorer has plenty of thrills and spills from beginning to end, stimulating the mind while it does maximum damage on the dancefloor. Very encouraging to see that it’s the first volume, too, as it demands a sequel!

Listen / Buy

You can listen to clips and explore purchase options at the Beatport website – and read more about Adam Beyer and previous releases on his own Drumcode label site

Published post no.2,595 – Saturday 31 May 2025

On this day – the birth of composer Gerald Finzi

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by Ben Hogwood

On this day in 1901, the composer Gerald Finzi was born in Oxford.

Finzi’s most popular pieces tend to be in slightly shorter forms, and his unique way of writing for strings has endeared him to many lovers of British music. Here is a great example, a piece more than suitable for a summer’s evening – the Romance for String Orchestra:

Published post no.2,595 – Monday 14 July 2025

Summer music – Bridge: Summer

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With another sweltering day promised in the UK, here is a rather wonderful tone poem from the pen of underrated English composer Frank Bridge – one to revel in this Sunday!

Published post no.2,594 – Sunday 13 July 2025

On Record – Steve Queralt: Swallow (Sonic Cathedral)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

This is the first solo album from Ride bassist Steve Queralt, the result of fitful opportunities to record between the ‘day job’.

Yet the fact that Swallow has taken shape over five years is an illustration that it means a lot to him, as he joins his band mate Andy Bell with a solo record on the Sonic Cathedral label.

Queralt is joined by singers Emma Anderson (ex-Lush) and Electrelane’s Verity Susman, who guest on three of the album’s nine tracks.

What’s the music like?

Beguiling. Queralt writes in the shoegaze tradition, like his band, but there is some wonderfully dreamy music here that puts you under its spell with repeated success.

After an atmospheric introduction, Lonely Town – headed by Anderson – is an early highlight, a dream pop moment of excellence that reaches the heady heights. Anderson appears again on the moody Swiss Air, with exhilarating widescreen production, while Verity Susman’s contribution is also a thing of wonder, a bold vocal backed with big guitars and spacious production.

Elsewhere Queralt complements the vocal numbers from the heart with some impressive instrumentals. 1988 holds itself with poise, a slower number that Queralt paces to perfection until it breaks out into a massive, drum-fuelled epic. A Porsche Shaped Hole has the sort of grandeur you would associate with M83, reaching for the stars and then floating seamlessly.

Does it all work?

It does. Queralt gets just the right balance of soft and loud, vocal and instrumental, slow and fast – the result being that the nine-tracks fairly fly by.

Is it recommended?

This is an auspicious debut from Steve Queralt, a starry-eyed gem that frequently reaches the celestial bodies for which it aims. It is a shame he has started late on the solo trail, but hopefully this will encourage him to take the plunge again without delay. Highly recommended.

For fans of… Ride, M83, Trentemøller, Maps, Beach House

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,593 – Saturday 12 July 2025