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
What’s the story?
Echaskech describe their new album as ‘a soundtrack to an imaginary movie based on James Lovelock’s book and theory of the ‘Novacene’. Reflecting the tragedy of the previous epochs’ climate damage and the optimism of a more positive future, the tracks trace the dream-like lives of a group of humans co-existing with cyborg collaborators.
Deep into a distant future, the world has survived a brutal climate breakdown and shifted from an epoch defined by humankind, the Anthropocene, to one defined by hyper intelligent beings – the Novacene.
What’s the music like?
One of the strengths of Echaskech’s music has been their ability to combine floated ambience with earth shattering beats – yet this release sees them leaning heavily towards the former discipline.
It proves an effective move, for Dom Hoare and Andy Gillham have always been expert scene-setters, creating vivid and spacious pictures even before the beats make themselves known, and that is the case here. The key is a slight adjustment in the musical tension, so that the listener is drawn into a more meditative state of mind, but not necessarily relaxed, as there is still enough tension here.
Instead the music tends to reflect the cover, the synths creating deep washes of colour and full harmonies that bring James Lovelock’s concept to life. Walking With Spheres is very descriptive, with sharper outlines against the broad canvas. Conversion Using Sunlight has an ambient backdrop of birdsong, into which the warm synth colours emerge. The duo still use beats, and Garden of Antheia has a steady, dubby tread. The title track presents a bright outlook, reinforced by an atmospheric closing pair.
Does it all work?
It does. Best heard in an uninterrupted sequence, Novacene works as an immersive experience – best heard this way – or if it retreats to the corner of your listening.
Is it recommended?
Very much so. Echaskech have a high quality threshold with their releases, and Novacene shows the best of a ‘less is more’ approach, securing ambient music that still rewards closer listening,
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Published post no.2,122 – Tuesday 19 March 2024
by Ben Hogwood
Last week one of the most esteemed British conductors celebrated his 90th birthday. Sir Roger Norrington has been a prominent force in the classical music recording industry over the last 30 years. His interpretations are largely informed by historical performance practice – which is to see he and his forces look to recreate the music of the day.
Norrington’s interpretations have tended to divide critics as to their effectiveness, and his approach has been more provocative with music from the turn of the 19th century. To some extent the ‘marmite’ reception has come about because he has conducted symphonic music from the likes of Bruckner and Mahler. This ‘marmite’ reception has sometimes overshadowed the sheer commitment and enthusiasm he has demonstrated for the British musical cause, whether with the London Classical Players or latterly with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra.
His recording achievements with the former include a notable Beethoven symphony cycle for EMI, energetic and brilliantly played, and some standout recordings of symphonies by Mozart and Schubert, together with a thrilling collection of Rossini overtures. In Stuttgart, Norrington reprised some of this work as well as going deeper into the symphonic tradition. Meanwhile with the London Philharmonic Orchestra he recorded an intriguing set of Vaughan Williams symphonies. Some of the highlights of these discs can be heard below:
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
What’s the story?
One of jazz music’s strongest qualities is improvisation, and the way musicians are encouraged to speak with freedom and walk a tightrope, to see what they are capable of.
Such a statement can certainly be applied to these three musicians, who improvised this recording on the afternoon of their very first meeting. Dave Harrington contributes guitar and electronics, Max Jaffe looks after the drums and percussion while Patrick Shiroishi is the saxophonist, as well as contributing bells and tambourine.
What’s the music like?
Consistently engaging – and inventive with it. There are four longer form pieces here, and the shorter Ship Rock. Each finds the players fully engaged while the extra-long pieces are well structured, with imaginative changes of colour to aid the ebb and flow.
Staring Into The Imagination (Of Your Face) is immediately notable for Jaffe’s sensitive brush work and Shiroishi’s well-judged vibrato, the saxophone given a nicely poised solo. How To Draw Buildings is something of an epic that bursts with sonic invention, with smoky and psychedelic moods that feature some powerful, long notes on the sax.
Dance Of The White Shadow And Golden Kite has a great urgency, breaking out into manic episodes, while Harrington’s guitar shapes the start of Return In 100 Years, The Colors Will Be At Their Peak. This track is full of incident, becoming fractious as each instrument strives to be heard.
Does it all work?
Largely. With such an instinctive approach – and such little preparation time – it is a risk to open out the broad canvas in this way, but the musical chemistry is such that these three musicians succeed in their endeavours.
Is it recommended?
It is. There is fiercely passionate music to be heard here, and imaginative use of the colours available. Hopefully the trio will continue their musical quest, as it would be interesting to chart their ensemble work over a period of years, to see where it takes them.
For fans of… Jeff Parker ETA Quartet, Ben Monder’s Amorphae, Body / Head, 75 Dollar Bill
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Published post no.2,119 – Saturday 16 March 2024
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