Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson’s début Englabörn was originally recorded and released in 2001 as the soundtrack to a theatre play by Hávar Sigurjónsson. Written for a string quartet, keyboard, percussion and electronics, Englabörn is a quiet and soul stirring piece of work which launched the composer’s international career ... [Continue Reading]
ambient
Murcof x Vanessa Wagner: Statea
From Rennes in Brittany, Vanessa Wagner is a classically trained pianist who has recorded the piano repertoire of Franz Shubert, Robert Shuman, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Claude Debussy, Alexander Scriabin, Maurice Ravel among others as well as the music of contemporary French composer Pascal Dusapin. Born in Tijuana, Mexico and now ... [Continue Reading]
Midori Hirano: Invisible Island
Originally born in Kyoto, Japan and now based in Berlin, Midori Hirano is a pianist, composer and sound artist who has been blending electronic loops and layers with minimal acoustic piano since 2006. In parallel to her piano-based activities, the musician has also been exploring experimental and ambient soundscapes under the ... [Continue Reading]
Félicia Atkinson: The Flower and the Vessel
When I record voice, I open to pages randomly, whether from books I’ve written or books written by others. I only do one or two takes with voice, picking words from those books like I would to make a spontaneous, wild bouquet of flowers […] I use a lot of cut-ups in that way. Playing with found language allows me to isolate ... [Continue Reading]
Daigo Hanada: Ouka
Japanese pianist and composer Daigo Hanada discreetly joined the modern classical scene in 2017 with Ichiru, a superb collection of melodic and concise vignettes for the upright piano. Expanding slightly on his sonic approach, the musician makes a welcome return with Ouka, his new EP for Montreal-based label Moderna Records ... [Continue Reading]
Jherek Bischoff: Cistern
A multi-instrumental performer, composer and producer based in Los Angeles, Jherek Bischoff started his music career as a bass player with various experimental and indie pop bands. A regular collaborator with Amanda Palmer, the musician gradually moved towards orchestral composition, often adopting a DIY approach. His 2012 album ... [Continue Reading]
Sly & Robbie meet Nils Petter Molvær: Nordub
Initiated in the summer of 2015 and featuring master musicians whose paths had never crossed before, Nordub is a mesmerising fusion project. Intersecting the steady Jamaican reggae and dub beats of Sly & Robbie with the Nordic electro jazz of trumpet player Nils Petter Molvær, guitar player Eivind Aarset and electronic ... [Continue Reading]