Good ones

Listen to these

lo-fi

Clot

Kowloon Kickback is a labour of love that I have been working on for 10 years now that I am delighted to have finally finished. It involved us composing, scoring and performing a full 1930s big band swing track recorded entirely on vintage 1930s recording equipment! It’s not the kind of thing you can turn around quickly on a laptop – hence the timescales.

The track was inspired by a walk I once did through Kowloon night market in Hong Kong, which I was recording on my MiniDisc Recorder (THAT dates it!).
Each stall was playing different music from their stereos, and it was all blending together into a surreal cacophony combined with the 8bit sounds of novelty toys for sale. Suddenly, for about 5 seconds on the recording, something amazing happened where one stall was playing Benny Goodman swing music, one was playing traditional Chinese music and one was playing House music, and they all combined into something bizarrely in time and in key.

At that moment swore I would make an original track that captured that atmosphere. Unfortunately the opportunity to score and record a big band isn’t something that offers itself often or easily. But having played Sax, drums and guitar in swing bands when I was a teenager, I really wanted to give it my best shot. The track concept was composed around the time of our debut album, but it has taken until the past couple of years to be able to record the full band – all on vintage equipment – and mash it up effectively with house elements, Chinese elements and 8bit sounds to create the end effect.

Frustratingly during the track’s 10 year gestation the electro-swing / swing house movement emerged, and I am more than aware that it would have been best to have this track completed a few years ago around the time this was a new scene! But I am hoping this track now stands apart from that sound somewhat via its idiosyncrasies.

The instrumentalists on the recording are the same musicians I have been working with for years, both on The Young Punx tracks and elsewhere, including the genius guitarist Guthrie Govan – more usually heard on shred metal fusion material, here giving a remarkably virtuoso performance in the style of Django Reinhart.  There is a roaring trumpet solo from Neil Waters, a beautiful Clarinet pastiche of Benny Goodman from Roy Castle’s son Ben Castle, and stealing the show, an epic 2 minute drum solo from Rick Hudson recorded, as with the rest of the solos, in one first take.

Though this track is part of an electronic/dance album, this work is obviously willfully focused on its Jazz / experimental elements rather than being a ‘club banger’. So the DJs out there should watch out for the club mix by Gramophonedzie, which irons out my quirks and makes it an unmissable dance-floor weapon… ( https://soundcloud.com/theyoungpunx/kowloon-kickback-gramophonedzie )

Kowloon Kickback (album version)

CANTICUM MEGAPTERAE II - The Evolution

The whale recording I analysed in the beginning of my bioacoustics research on whale song culture became the core of my first-ever track: Theme 7 from Canticum Megapterae – Song of the Humpback Whale. Through the mastery of some of my favourite sonic wizards Theme 7 evolved into surreal magical remixes. I feel beyond humbled and grateful to these incredible artists for their open hearts, allowing them to get inspired by the baby producer I then was, and, of course, by the amazing humpback whale on vocals! Some kept more of the original track, while others used only small parts of it. Maybe it works the same way with the whales who copy and remix each other’s songs. 

Most people ignore that animal culture is crucial for the survival of numerous species. Whales and dolphins have rich and diverse social and cultural lives. Humpback whale songs are among the most remarkable examples of animal culture. They continually evolve, but at any point in time all males in the same population sing the same version of the song. Sometimes they even replace their song with a completely different one from another population – this is called a song revolution. The degree and pace of this cultural change is unparalleled in the animal kingdom, except in humans. How and why does it happen we can only speculate. Are there specific individuals introducing the new songs and changes to the existing ones, or is it a fully collaborative effort? Perhaps some whales are more creative and innovative, while the others simply copy new hit songs which then spread through the ocean. 

In our own culture, some artists are pioneers of new musical genres, while others follow them; some add variations to known styles and others lead them in new directions. But what are the origins of music itself? 

Whales were here long before humans, and they were singing long before we ‘invented’ language and music. How will whale songs evolve in the future? Is there even a future for them?

https://innerchildmusic.bandcamp.com/album/canticum-megapterae-ii-the-evolution-16-bit
https://innerchildmusic.bandcamp.com/album/canticum-megapterae-ii-the-evolution-24-bit

Featuring humpback whale on vocals recorded by Dr Luke Rendell 
Mastering by Jordan @ Senna Sound 
Design by Goran Radosevic based on artwork by Phaabee 
Science background by Sara Niksic a.k.a. Inner Child

CANTICUM MEGAPTERAE II - The Evolution

Theme 7 (Balancé Remix)

Inner Child - Theme 7 (Balancé Remix)

Brand new single 'The Way Back Home' is available to buy and stream everywhere now. The deeply soul-infused track, produced with Miink sets the tone for Rōnin II, with its after-hours sound, featuring strings by Philip Sheppard, with Callum Finn on additional vocals.

Taken from the forthcoming mixtape 'Rōnin II', available to pre-order now -> https://lnk.to/unkleronin2

Mixed by Bruno Ellingham and mastered by Matt Colton.

Artwork by Warren Du Preez & Nick Thornton Jones.

The Way Back Home (Rōnin / Original)

'To Dream Is To Forget' is the new album from Hidden Orchestra, released 22 September 2023 via Lone Figures.

2xLP / CD / Merch / Digital
https://www.hiddenorchestra.com
_______________________________

Inquiries: management@hiddenorchestra.com
__________________________________________

To Dream Is To Forget

Nightfall

BUY NEW ALBUM

Reverse Learning

Tall Ground

Breaking News feat. A.S.M

Music Inspired by the Film Roma

On My Knees (feat. Michael Kiwanuka)

Floating Point

EXODUS, GODS AND KINGS

A gentle remix we've made for Caro Emerald

You can download it on itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/pack-up-louie-caravan-palace/id915959132?i=915959194

Enjoy ! 

Caro Emerald - Pack Up The Louie (Caravan Palace Remix)

thanks for 2k
#define throw_line(arg) throw my_exception(arg, __FILE__, __LINE__);
void f() {
    throw_line("Oh no!");

Bandcamp

Know

Scratch Bandits Crew - Break Ya Neck Remix
Another "live show" exclusive track. watch how the scratch bandits do their thing uncut !
Check us on :
http://www.scratchbanditscrew.com
http://www.facebook.com/scratchbanditspage

Check the scratch video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-CiDLpHX4c

Release due to April 9, 2012 but pre-orders already available here : http://musique.fnac.com/a4062584/Scratch-Bandits-Crew-31-Novembre-CD-album

Break Ya Neck Remix

New 'Broken EP' out now.

2xLP / CD / Merch / Digital:
https://www.hiddenorchestra.com

Tour Dates:
https://www.hiddenorchestra.com/dates

Inquiries:
info@hiddenorchestra.com