Strings

Bryce Dessner: Aheym

Aheym

Bryce Dessner & The Kronos Quartet- Aheym

I really kept this to myself for so long, no idea why. Here's the live version of this track - recorded together with Miko in 2009 at the wonderful "Spiritual Healing Open Air". What a ride! I hope you enjoy this little ode...

An Ode To My Muse (Live With Violin)

The Pigeon Tunnel (Soundtrack from the Apple Original Film)

Childhood

King Of The World

Hood Orchestra - The Prelude

I Just Be Chillin

The Intro

Harmonic Odyssey

Limitless - A Trap Symphony

Tiptoe Freestyle (Extended)

Tiptoe Freestyle

The System

Order & stream the album: idol-io.ffm.to/Kiasmos-II

Today Kiasmos, the duo of Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds and Faroese musician Janus Rasmussen, release their long-awaited second album.

Kiasmos are returning, renewed and restored, with II. It’s the triumphant follow-up to their universally acclaimed self-titled debut in 2014, which re-envisioned minimal techno with orchestral flourishes and weightless production. They’d made most of that album in just two weeks; this time it’s been 10 years. The making of II was a test of their friendship, but also testament to how great musical chemistry can always go the distance and be just the same as it ever was. “In the beginning, we hadn’t established any sound, so it was easy to write,” says Janus.

Following the recently dropped EP Flown, today they share new single Burst which Janus describes as being “the moment when the whole album started coming together. A lot of work went into making this track what it is, making it an anchor for the rest of the album.”

Ólafur adds: “when we finally arrived at Burst it felt like a key to the puzzle of what a new Kiasmos could sound like.”

Squared (Edit)

Kiasmos - Squared (Edit)

Composed by David Julyan. String Quartet arrangement of 'Let Me Sleep' originally composed for the soundtrack for Christopher Nolan film 'Insomnia'. This piece is taken from the album ISKRA by the Iskra String Quartet. Download/Stream entire album: https://lnk.to/-pjxU 

Let Me Sleep

My remix of the beautiful piece composed by Peter Gregson for Iskra String Quartet.
Out now on 1631 Recordings.

Iskra String Quartet - Chorale (Five)-  Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch Remix

Taken from his forthcoming album 'Spells' out June 10 on Erased Tapes.

Pre-order the LP/CD/DL here: www.erasedtapes.com/store/index/ERATP085
iTunes: http://snip.ftpromo.net/spells
Spotify: http://snip.ftpromo.net/goldentimes
Bandcamp: http://snip.ftpromo.net/spellsbc
or any other good record store worldwide

"It's just incredible" – Mary Anne Hobbs, BBC 6 Music
“Strangely upbeat nocturnes" – The Wire

‘Spells’ merges programmed piano pieces with live instruments, combining the controllable technical world and the often unpredictable aspects of live improvisation. In some ways it continues where his underground debut ‘Gravity’ left off, though a lot of weight is lifted, making room for a lighter and more energetic listen. Friend and fellow Erased Tapes artist Nils Frahm mixed and mastered both albums. Ben is not a master pianist like his dear friend, but his sound collages are so meticulously designed that after hearing the result an impressed Nils declared: “from now on, if anyone asks – this is a real piano”. 

His intricate, humanised programming – enhanced by drummer Achim Färber, cellist Anton Peisakhov and harpist Lara Somogyi, and a considerate selection of echoes, delays and compressors – has been used to create a hybrid sound that intends to deceive, question and challenge existing listening habits. Utilising the contrast between reduction and decoration, ‘Spells’ can be seen as a quest to find out how much or how little composition is required to constitute a song. Why the ear can and should be deceived about the authenticity of instruments. What significance these instruments have within this process, and why the personal perception of balance and sound exclude ultimate truths. 

Linking the two albums are the four movements of ‘Nocturne’, an ever-developing conversation that on occasion flirts with the grandeur of compressed rock drums. The first single, ‘Golden Times 1’, received a world premiere by BBC 6 Music’s Mary Anne Hobbs, proclaiming it as "incredible." An alternative version of ‘Sleepers Beat Theme’ – composed for the soundtrack to a short film about the Trans-Siberian Express – opened Jon Hopkins’ Late Night Tales album from 2015, who noted “I thought it was such a calming and sensitive piece that sounded to me like the beginning of something...the warmth and depth of the sound entrances me every time”. 

Though ‘Spells’ and ‘Gravity’ are his first albums recorded under his own name, as acclaimed electronic producer HECQ he’s released nine albums since 2003, exploring everything from ambient to breakcore. He has simultaneously established himself as a trusted composer and sound designer, working for a wide array of clients including Amnesty International and Marvel Comics; composing for feature films, games, art installations and convention opening titles.

After embracing this demanding line of work, in 2010 Ben felt the need to explore his roots and early education, which inspired these albums under his own name. Born in 1981 as the third child of opera singer Deirdre Boysen and actor Claus Boysen, his classical music training on piano and guitar began when he was seven years old; the works of Bruckner, Wagner and Bach laid an important foundation. Rediscovering this music shared with his parents – united with the sounds of Autechre, Cristian Vogel and Jiri.Ceiver to Pink Floyd and Godspeed You! Black Emperor – brought back an understanding of why he wanted to write music in the first place.

“Finding my views understood, reflected and welcomed by Erased Tapes was an encouraging experience, crowned by the offer to release ‘Spells’ and re-issue ‘Gravity’ with them. Through many caring conversations with Robert I felt that there’s no better home for the existing ideas and no better cradle for new ones.”  – Ben Lukas Boysen 

TRACK LISTING:  	

01. The Veil  02. Nocturne 3  03. Sleepers Beat Theme  04. Golden Times 1
05. Nocturne 4  06. Keep Watch  07. Golden Times 2  08. Selene

Spells

Golden Times 1

Buy LP/CD/DL

Ben Lukas Boysen – Golden Times 1

Recorded and mixed by Francesco Donadello and Joe Rubel at Vox-Ton studios, Berlin. Additional production by Nick Hill.

Berlin 1-3

Berlin 1

Electric - or perhaps more fittingly electrifying - are the sounds emanating from the loudspeakers.  And all of it is unplugged.  The sounds are created by sonic.art - not only one of the finest saxophone quartets but also perhaps the most compelling chamber music formation anywhere. Featuring works by Philip Glass and Michael Nyman.

Philip Glass: String Quartet No. 3 - sonic.art Saxophone Quartet

Radiohead - The Reckoner (Official String Quartet Remix)

Dvorak - 'The American' Quartet, Lento

Etudes4Violin&Electronix

Metamorphosis

Jóhann Jóhannsson - Odi Et Amo featuring Iskra String Quartet (Brussels, April 2009)

Strings

Stephanie Jennings