by Ben Hogwood
Here is a love letter from Daniel Avery to the fabled Fabric nightclub. The release celebrates 25 years of the club, having been a pivotal space for Avery. Following the 2014 release of his album Drone Logic, he was invited by fabric to stage his own DJ night at the club, and the release of this single marks the return of that night.
Published post no.2,123 – Wednesday 20 March 2024
by Ben Hogwood
Kieran Hebden has reached album number 12 under his Four Tet alias – released via his Bandcamp site on Friday 15 March.
It promises much, for Hebden has the freedom on his own Text Records to do what he wants. Will it show how he is continuing to develop as an artist? Come back to Arcana in the coming week or so to find out…
Published post no.2,102 – Wednesday 28 February 2024
by Ben Hogwood
Some exciting news from Erased Tapes… who have announced they will be releasing the soundtrack to forthcoming film Falling Into Place, a collaboration between Jon Hopkins and Ben Lukas Boysen, featuring performances by pianist Lisa Morgenstern and cellist Anne Müller.
He takes up the story: “The film in general, and therefore the score, deals a lot with reflecting on needs and the feeling of belonging. Each piece of the score is devoted to one of the many stations our protagonists visit on their journey and Some Kind Of Pattern represents an early and careful approach towards their feelings and who they want to be, for themselves and also for each other.”
Some Kind Of Pattern is the early taster of what the soundtrack will be like, a contemplative but assured piece of work whose descriptive powers are evident. It has a compelling stillness that bodes well for the album.
The score to Falling Into Place will be released on Erased Tapes on 28 March, in conjunction with Piano Day 2024.
Published post no.2,102 – Wednesday 28 February 2024
by Ben Hogwood
Manu Delago is closing in on the release of his new album Snow From Yesterday, due on 2 February. Here is another substantial taster from it, a piece written by Manu in tribute to his late step-father.
As his label’s press release described last year, “the Austrian composer, innovator, Grammy nominee and acclaimed percussionist has teamed up with vocal ensemble Mad About Lemon to craft a profound and distinct new concept piece. Manu has become a leading name in his field, touring with the likes of Björk, most recently on her celebrated Cornucopia tour. His trademark handpan virtuosity is the rhythmic lifeforce of Snow From Yesterday, creating majestic, emotive sounds, often with a tender delicacy, for Mad About Lemon’s folksy harmonies to pour over.
Those words capture the mood of the new single – and bode well for the new album, which Arcana will of course review.
Published post no.2,053 – Thursday 11 January 2024
by Ben Hogwood, editor
As this is our first post of the year, let me take the opportunity to wish all readers of Arcana a very Happy New Year! Thanks for taking the time to visit the site, I hope you will find much of interest.
In a musical sense, 2024 promises much – and offers a great opportunity to celebrate the music of some classical composers whose anniversaries fall this year. Keep visiting for more on Gustav Holst (above, his statue in Cheltenham), Gabriel Fauré, Darius Milhaud and Nick Drake – as well as the continuation of our Beethoven 200 series, which will pick up the composer’s work where we left off, with the opera Lenore. There will also be the usual reviews of concerts and new music, playlists and interviews. The aim is to add a post each day, so if you come back to the site on a daily basis you should find something new to read – and something new to listen to.
We aim to do what Manfred Mann’s Earth Band did to Holst – and bring some joy to our readers. Wishing you a wonderful 2024!
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