Satellite is the 4th album from Graham Richardson's Last Days. Richardson who is now well known for his cinematic electro-acoustic pieces that effortlessly invoke an almost inconceivably tangible imagery has this time around turned ever inward for Satellite's core inspiration. While Richardson credits the album with certain personal themes in tow he's more apt to let the listener gather their own meaning of the album's affinity of satellite and stars. The song New Transmission features vocals by Beth Arzy (Aberdeen, Trembling Blue Stars) and could very well sum up the album's apex while delivering the most pop affected Last Days song to date. Satellite is out Sept 17th on n5MD

Last Days - Fidra

Yes, I have already premiered two tracks this week (see Plïnkï Plønkï and Resina), and yes, this is another premiere of a track, and yet it is immensely needed, wanted, and necessary during these somewhat anxious times. “Rjóður” comes from the Icelandic composer Snorri Hallgrímsson, whom I’ve profiled on many occasions before (see also his In the Studio with… feature), as well as celebrated for his film music, which has been backed by the wonderful Moderna Records (home to many fantastic modern classical and solo piano composers, such as Jacob David, Ed Carlsen, Tim Linghaus, Tambour, and even yours truly). This particular piece appears on Hallgrímsson’s second EP titled Landbrot II – the first having been released last November with five pieces, and now, a year later, with five more. “The collection takes its name from the location of Hallgrímsson’s family cabin in rural Iceland, which he describes as his ‘happy place’. Landbrot translates to erosion or ‘land fractures’, and from this, we can imagine the search for inner calm and acceptance amongst the many obstacles of daily life.”

Read more about this release here: https://hcdi.gs/Landbrot

Landbrot II

Rjóður

TRACK PREMIERE : Snorri Hallgrímsson - Rjóður

In a sonic world which currently appears to be saturated with meditative and reflective music, it seems too hard to meditate and then reflect upon the meaning of this saturation. Is it the fact that we’re all receding into quietude and need a bit more space for all our mental health, or is it simply the machinery behind the scenes that works like a suggestive algorithm to feed us more of what we want? I suspect the truth lies somewhere in between because it’s a little bit of both. Thankfully, I think I can see right through the latter, and bring you closer to the former because there are a few artists, and more importantly, record labels, that really focus on aesthetics, delivering music that connects every listener, and not just dilutes them with more of the same. In this particular case, I am speaking, of course, of Moderna, which since 2015, has been offering us beautiful gems. With their latest release, this Montreal-based imprint is introducing us to a Polish composer and pianist, Piotr Wiese. Building upon a successful string of film soundtracks, singles and albums, Wiese is currently working on a new LP for the label, but today we can get a sneak preview into his world with a charming title track, taken from his upcoming EP in September. “Coming Home” is a lovingly executed solo piano piece, with roots in European romanticism and newly-born branches in contemporary classical and reductionist minimalism genres – exactly how I like it. It’s a poetic melody that comforts and quilts, reminding me so much of those meditative and reflective pieces that I love so much to console in, even if they come from a turbulent mind of my own.

"Coming Home is all about a journey – the one you undertake to get to know your true self. Sometimes a lot of time has to pass to get to the place where you live your own life, rather than the lives of others. And then when you get to that place it feels like ‘coming home’ from a long journey. There can nonetheless be sadness because there are people, often loved ones, you have to leave behind to live in peace with yourself amidst the joy of the return to self."

Coming Home

TRACK PREMIERE : Piotr Wiese - Coming Home

Following the warmly-received Paces (1631 Recordings/Decca Publishing) and the collaborative Stadsbilder (Time Released Sound), Swedish composer and multi-instrumentalist Jakob Lindhagen presents his second solo full-length album Memory Constructions on piano and coffee records.

Recorded together with German brother-duo Sebastian and Daniel Selke (aka CEEYS, whose collaborations also include Ólafur Arnalds and Spitfire) and longtime artistic collaborator Sofia Nystrand (Vargkvint), the album merges elements of neoclassical and ambient music, with a foundation of intimate piano works paired with violoncello and vocal synth, expanded with musical saw, kantele, bowed glockenspiel and sound experiments, recorded to analogue equipment. 

”Memories are an equally complicated as fascinating aspect of the human mind. After realizing a couple of memories from my childhood surroundings simply didn’t add up - the timeline didn’t make sense so I couldn’t have been in that place at that time, or a block of houses not being placed where they actually were - I became slightly obsessed with memory research. Our memories play such a huge part of our identities, yet they are extremely unreliable, change and fade over time, and are easily influenced and manipulated. And yet I couldn’t help myself also finding beauty in the fact that I both completely trust and distrust my own memories, that make up who I am. So digging from these slightly contradicting feelings, and from where my own memories are either constructed, fading, forgotten, rewritten, made up or completely true, this album was concieved.” 

Memory Constructions has been supported by the Swedish Arts Council, and is coming out digitally and on limited edition vinyl on the 23rd of September, featuring artwork by Sofia Nystrand and desing/layout by Celia Bayo.

Purchase

Jakob Lindhagen - Tomorrow

We could not be happier to announce that we'll be releasing Ole-Bjørn Talstad's debut record 'Ferd' on February 24 2023. 'Ferd' is an old Norwegian word meaning journey or voyage, which can also be used to indicate someone's journey through life. It is an apt name for Ole-Bjørn's album, which, while containing doses of nordic melancholy, perfectly captures his hopeful and optimistic outlook. 

We'd love for you to check out the first single 'Her' which is out now : moderna.lnk.to/her

Ferd

⊜ spotify

Ole-Bjørn Talstad - Her

2nd single from Norwegian pianist and composer Ole-Bjørn Talstad's upcoming record Ferd. This is a delicate and reflective piece entitled Motbakke, but it has a deeper meaning.

"Sometimes life feels like a constant uphill struggle, never reaching the top, always new hills to climb. But that’s how we evolve... This song is an ode to the process/work/struggle/hard-times and a reminder to try and look for the joy and beauty in it."

You can listen to Motbakke on your favorite platform, right here: moderna.lnk.to/motbakke

Motbakke

Ole-Bjørn Talstad - Motbakke

We are thrilled to announce the new record 'Friede' by Hamburg based composer and pianist @lindarummusic. She has created a collection of 14 intimate vignettes that are full of catchy melodies and delicately arranged harmonies that are beautifully woven together. We're excited to share the album's opening track 'Innen' with you, which is a tender and thoughtful piece inviting you into the gorgeous world Linda has created. 

🎧 moderna.lnk.to/innen

Innen

Stream

Linda Rum - Innen

We are thrilled to announce our second instrumental LP with UK singer songwriter, vocalist, pianist and producer Tom Adams. Following in the footsteps of his beloved record 'Particles', this album features a set of 10 tracks blending Tom's delicate piano playing with a simple yet stunning layering of aetherial instrumentation including his unique falsetto vocals, subtle electronics, electric guitar and percussion. This one is called ‘Golden Waves’ and will be released April 28 in digital and CD formats, with the first track 'Arrival' out now.

Stream here --> ampl.ink/arrival

@oceantemple

Golden Waves

Arrival

Tom Adams - Arrival

UK composer, producer and singer-songwriter Tom Adams' new instrumental record Golden Waves arrives later this month - it features a set of 10 tracks blending Adams' delicate piano playing with a simple yet stunning layering of aetherial instrumentation including his unique falsetto vocals, subtle electronics, electric guitar and percussion. The result is a wash of sound influenced equally by modern-classical piano playing and post-rock / ambient groups such as Sigur Rós and A Winged Victory for the Sullen. With Golden Waves, Adams shows that he continues to be one of the most innovative voices in the scene. 

You can pre-order the album in digital and CD formats over at our Bandcamp store : https://modernarecords.bandcamp.com/album/golden-waves

And stream the 2nd single ‘First Wave’ on your favorite platform : moderna.ampl.ink/firstwave

'First Wave' is built around a harmonic progression of falling major and minor thirds that gives the music at once a sense of tonal identity and yet a centre that is constantly changing. As a result there is no real feeling of beginning and end, just a constant flow of music. I found this to be evocative of sitting on a beach and listening to the arrival of the waves, each somehow being the same yet also unique from the one before it...'' - Tom Adams

First Wave

Buy CD/Digital

Tom Adams - First Wave

Music for piano.

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We're here to trace a line from electronic sound designers to classical composers, connecting them through the realms of ambient & cinematic music.

Tom Adams - Arrival

Moderna Records

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