Author Archives: Arcana

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About Arcana

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

Switched On – AVAWAVES: Heartbeat (One Little Independent)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

This is the third album from the duo of Anna Phoebe and Aisling Brouwer, who have recently bolstered their reputation in soundtrack scores for Savage Waters and The Buccaneers.

They describe their first album since 2021 as “peeling back all the layers we cloak ourselves in until there is nothing left but the source, and discovering the strength that resides there. We wanted this album to feel raw, honest, and intuitive. There are themes of resilience, determination, grit, and an optimism in forever chasing the dawn after dark. It’s the bursting of bubbles and realising how much lighter everything feels without them.”

The single-word track titles are clues to the directness of expression the pair use, and on occasion the pair are complemented by vocalist Imogen Williams.

What’s the music like?

There is a freshness to AVAWAVES that is immediately felt on headphones, which indicates their wish to peel back the layers is an immediate success. The listener is led into wide open spaces, set down and allowed to enjoy the fresh musical air, free of any pretence or expectation.

The title track is purely and deeply felt, Phoebe’s violin played without vibrato and supported by calming piano – and it sets the tone for a purity running throughout the album. Mood secures a range of colours through its imaginative scoring. The violin uses pizzicato, double stopping and subtle inflections to the phrasing, while the doleful piano line is complemented by fuzzy electronics and a solid, quick moving beat. It is, as the pair say, the soundtrack to an imaginary film of the listener’s choosing.

Escape and Raindrop have strong Celtic flavours, the former given a winsome violin line and the latter soft vocals and a free spirit. Crush is synth-based and quite trancey, while Rumour brings the piano forward, its textures mottled and weather-beaten. Sleep Tight is a consoling song, the only one on the album, and is beautifully sung.

Does it all work?

It does. The music builds up in layers but never gets too much – or too cheesy. When used, the beats are especially good, as in the evocative Nightdrive.

Is it recommended?

It is. Heartbeat is an appropriate title for the album, as AVAWAVES make music from the heart, notable for the purity of its expression. Emotional and evocative, it is a rather wonderful listen.

For fans of… Erland Cooper, Ólafur Arnalds, Hauschka, Max Richter

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,535 – Saturday 17 May 2025

In appreciation – David Watkin

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by Ben Hogwood Photo (c) unknown

This week we learned the very sad news of the death of talented cellist David Watkin, at the age of 60. Watkin had to stop playing cello 11 years ago due to scleroderma, but as this moving tribute from fellow Scottish Chamber Orchestra cellist Su-a Lee shows, he was a much-loved character whose influence continued to be an overwhelmingly positive one.

I had the good fortune to witness David in action for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and his charismatic playing – with good humour clear to see – left a lasting mark. I am sure that in addition to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra the members of The Academy of Ancient Music, The King’s Consort and the Orchestre Révolutionnaire Et Romantique – to name just three ensembles Watkin played with – would concur.

Watkin made relatively few commercial recordings, but it is very much a case of quality over quantity. His collection of Vivaldi Cello Sonatas for Hyperion is proof of that:

Even more deserving of praise is his cycle of Bach Cello Suites, made for Resonus and carrying remarkable poise and personality, which these two excerpts illustrate:

Published post no.2,535 – Friday 16 May 2025

Switched On – BUNKR: Antenne Remixed (VLSI)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

BUNKR’s third album Antenne, released nearly a year ago, was based on the radio station of the same name “devoid of any human voice to provide us with clues. No big ups for the SW9 crew, no ads for the turbo-sound rave with safe security.  The 97.9 FM frequency was vibrant with all manner of cosmic, unending playlists of widescreen techno, breakbeats, ambient washes and occasional forays into obscure German synth music”. The producer – aka James Dean – brought it to life with expressive, moody soundscapes painting a series of atmospheric pictures. Each was ripe for a remix – and VLSI present here a series of interpretations of a number of tracks from the album, each one built from the lost audio files and recordings of Antenne broadcasts.

What’s the music like?

Consistently absorbing. There is a lot of busy beat making going on here, with the emphasis tending to be on the rhythm section over melodic input. However there was already plenty of that in the original BUNKR material, so the combination works really well.

Warrington Runcorn New Town Development Plan kicks things off with a busy mix of Oriam Speedway, beats chattering down the airwaves above a longer, drawn out line that gives plenty of space.

There is a similar urgency to the Mattr remix of the same track, while the beats get even more prominence from Polyop, and the clattering set of percussion used in the remake of I Feel Eye See. Faex Optim’s take on this track is a widescreen winner, backed with a heavy break, while Alphabox gives a nice, dreamy contrast towards the end of Aquatakt.

Echaskech save some of the best moments until last, their studied and rather majestic account of Nectar Rushes bringing cool ambience and space.

Does it all work?

It does – the only regret being there aren’t a couple more remixes to enjoy. Yet this is a really strong package that gives a great variety of beatmaking.

Is it recommended?

It is. The remix album really should be employed more, for it is a great way of seeing how producers work and getting another view of their process. This group is an example of just how effective the process can be.

For fans of… Echaskech, Fluke, Ulrich Schnauss, Leftfield, Hybrid

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,533 – Thursday 15 May 2025

Switched On – Footshooter: The Oasis (Tru Thoughts)

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by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Footshooter is South London-based producer and DJ Barney Whittaker. He describes his first album for the Tru Thoughts label as “a collection of moods from the last three years. As with all my projects, collaboration and sharing is at the heart of it.”

Music is Whittaker’s oasis, and always in the spirit of collaboration – which explains the plethora of artists appearing on this album. Under his Footshooter alias Whittaker operates in a number of musical styles, providing supple instrumental music that the vocalists can bend and shape into their own.

What’s the music like?

The great thing about Footshooter’s music is that it refuses to be pinned down, moving easily between different styles while retaining its identity.

The guests are really well deployed, especially Ezra Collective saxophonist James Mollison. He adds a brilliant solo part to the broken beat of Cycles, while Surrey Canal Road is a mellow yet descriptive musical portrait in his hands.

Obelisk enjoys a distinctive vocal pairing from Natty Wylah and brother portrait, while the excellent Boomerang dresses Ehireme Omoaka’s spoken word with a fine trumpet solo from Wilf Petherbridge. Wilf appears later on Parc de Belleville, this time his solo laced with a bittersweet melancholy.

Folding could easily be heard by a pool in the Mediterranean, but it’s an emotive track too, complementing an expansive piano line with sultry yet deeply felt vocals from Allysha Joy. Here To Learn moves a bit more towards deep house, in the company of a lithe vocal from Andre Espeut, but then Sermon steps back for contemplation in the company of Sara El Harrak.

Does it all work?

It does – The Oasis is nicely structured, and inhabits a place of positive musical energy.

Is it recommended?

Enthusiastically. It isn’t an exaggeration to call Footshooter a visionary producer, and the way he has written for the wide range of contributors on this record shows how versatile he is. A vibrant album.

For fans of… Joe Armon Jones, Seven Davis Jr., Jazzanova, Moodymann

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,532 – Wednesday 14 May 2025

In appreciation – Matthew Best

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by Ben Hogwood Photo (c) Chris Gloag

On Sunday we learned of the sad news that Matthew Best, the British conductor and bass singer, had sadly passed away at the age of 68.

To many collectors, Best will be known for a series of very fine recordings made with two ensembles that he founded, the Corydon Singers and Orchestra, for Hyperion in the 1980s and 1990s. These discs became cornerstones of the label’s choral repertoire. Here is the text of an obituary shared by Matthew’s artist management team at Intermusica:

“It is with deep sadness that we inform you of the death of renowned British conductor and bass, Matthew Best. Matthew passed away today, 11 May 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Matthew’s long career was defined by his extraordinary versatility earning him a distinguished reputation worldwide. An opera singer for over thirty-five years with over one hundred bass, bass-baritone and baritone roles in his repertoire, he also worked extensively as a choral and orchestral conductor across the UK and Europe, at various stages during his career as a composer, arranger and editor.

Julia Maynard, Director, Vocal & Opera, said:

“Matthew was one of the finest basses of his generation and an intuitive musician and interpreter of many of the major roles in the bass repertoire. He was a warm, funny, utterly engaging artist, teacher, friend, and a much loved parent, grandfather and husband. Our thoughts are with his most treasured family”

As a singer, Matthew was a regular guest artist for all the major UK opera houses, singing extensively the roles of Wotan in the complete Wagner Ring Cycle, The Flying Dutchman, King Mark, Amfortas, Kurwenal, King Heinrich, Scarpia and Jochanaan, and premiering new works by Jonathan Harvey, Julian Anderson and Kaija Saariaho. Matthew’s extensive concert career made his a familiar face across the country and in Europe and the USA, working with many distinguished conductors including Muti, Haitink, Colin Davis, Andrew Davis, Mehta, Nelsons, Salonen, Mackerras, Marriner, Runnicles, Gardiner and Hickox.

As an active composer and arranger, Matthew conducted the premiere of his operetta Alice (based on Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland) in Cambridge in February 1979, directed by Nicholas Hytner; with further performances as part of the 1979 Aldeburgh Festival, with a guest appearance by Sir Peter Pears. Matthew produced performing editions for a number of works, including of a rare Bruckner manuscript for inclusion in his Bruckner cycle for Hyperion Records.

Matthew was equally well known as a conductor specialising in choral, vocal and orchestral music, in 1973 Matthew founded the Corydon Singers and later, in 1991, Corydon Orchestra and went on to make over thirty highly-regarded recordings for the Hyperion label. His extended conducting career took him to many of the orchestras and festivals of the UK and Europe, where he was regular guest conductor with, amongst many others, the English Chamber Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Northern Sinfonia, City of London Sinfonia and BBC Singers. For the 1998/99 season he was Principal Conductor of the Hanover Band, and in 2017, Matthew became Music Director of the Academy Choir Wimbledon and Academy Baroque Players. In his final performance with the Academy Choir on 8 March 2025, he conducted the London Mozart Players in a performance of Brahms Requiem and Strauss Metamorphosen for Strings.

Since 2015, Matthew had been a highly regarded teacher at the Royal Northern College of Music, shaping the careers of many students, several of whom have gone on to have active professional careers. In April 2025, Matthew was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Northern College of Music in acknowledgement of his remarkable career, an award he was able to collect in person from Head of Vocal Studies and Opera, Professor Lynne Dawson.

Our thoughts are with Matthew’s wife Roz and family at this incredibly sad time.”

The below link will take you to a Tidal playlist collecting a number of Matthew’s recordings as a singer, but principally those made with the Corydon Singers. My own personal favourites include those selections from albums of Vaughan Williams, Rachmaninov, Beethoven and Bruckner, finishing with a terrific performance of Vaughan Williams’ Dona nobis pacem.

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/6cff6639-1675-43c2-92ad-9cc9e22f881f

Published post no.2,532 – Tuesday 13 May 2025