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

I just love the albums the open up the way a film would. Especially a dark, suspenseful, and a little eerie movie, that lets the door swing open and away, and then you fall, propelled by the inertia, into the empty, into the timeless and unknown. There are many fantastic pieces on this 12-track album by Fionnlagh, which comes out tomorrow on Ambientologist imprint. But in the case of this deep cinematic journey, I have chosen to premiere the first. The rest is just as menacing and all evolving, but it’s the door that you must open first before the fall. Among the many recent fantastic releases on this Amsterdam-based label, this one comes as sort of a surprise – their “typical” affair de jour is mostly in the drone and ambient territory (oh, I try so hard not to pigeonhole and label, but it’s tough!), while this debut, What Came Before is even put out with a warning. “Not for the faint of heart. Engage at your own risk” – so states the sign-off on a press release accompanying “a thoroughly immersive and dystopian exploration of sublime vastness” by this London-born and Amsterdam-based composer. Appearing on the dance scene for the many labels, Mark Findlay tries his hand at cinematic music: part soundtrack to our tremendous longing, part echo of the distant and distorted past.

Read more about this release here: http://hcdi.gs/Fionnlagh

What Came Before

In Isolation

TRACK PREMIERE : Fionnlagh - In Isolation

Sometimes it’s not enough to pick out the right chords, to write out the melody, sprinkle the notes. Sometimes it’s not enough to play the right instruments, hire the orchestra, space out the mics. Take a listen to some “fake Spotify artists” and you’ll know that it’s true. It seems that these copycats have all the ingredients, but the dish still tastes lukewarm. That is because their course is lacking the true soul of a master which they’ve poured into each piece. That’s the ingredient not listed on the recipe. Now take a listen to this gorgeous track by a composer and visual art collective from LA named Sanctuary. It seems, oh, so simple, straightforward, and plain, and yet, when you play it, it beams with emotion, dynamically charged and expanded within. It’s ripe with that ‘something’ that Jóhann possessed – and that is the best compliment I can give to any new recommendation. “Crystalline, emotional orchestral and choral elements blend with intriguing foley. Sometimes intimate, sometimes epic, Sanctuary caresses dark themes with intense visual vignettes and haunting, widescreen music, challenging the audience to join them on an inward journey.” Released on Safari Riot, the collective offers up a debut of two EPs, both volumes out tomorrow, December 3rd. This is incredibly beautiful and cinematic, and I can’t wait for you to enjoy the rest of the pieces. But for now, here’s my favorite, titled “In Absolute.”

"In my mind ‘In Absolute’ is a very visual piece. Much like a close-up shot in a film, slowly zooming out to reveal an intricate scene, ‘In Absolute’ embodies the same feeling. A simple idea ever-expanding. It would not have been possible without the brilliant string and woodwind ensembles we recorded in Iceland last summer."

Sanctuary Vol. 1

In Absolute

TRACK PREMIERE : Sanctuary - In Absolute

Perhaps a new name to these pages, but not a stranger to the scene, Copenhagen-based producer Kasper Bjørke has released music and remixes on Kompakt, Bella Union, Ghostly International, Longform Editions, Wolf + Lamb, and many others, along with projects for Prada, Nike, and Bang & Olufsen. He’s got more than just a few recognitions among music journalists (including a spot on The Guardian’s best contemporary albums) and has toured the world with his DJ sets as a solo performer and one-half of Filur (with Tomas Barfod). All that is great, but what about the music, Mike? Intricately produced with plenty of ambient and cinematic tendencies, the all-immersive experience of his new album Mother is a tribute to our home planet, which has given birth to humankind. And while we often get caught up in our self-created bullshit, we seem to miss the point of this brief encounter with our existence, which, in just another moment relative to the universal time, is poof! … and gone. All this, from birth (the first 20+ minute track is titled “Formation”) to death (the last is titled “Requiem”) is captured on this 100-minute album, gently guiding you through all the motions we’re destined to experience. “Other artists have tackled song cycles that parallel a day, a year, or even a lifetime. Mother spans a timeframe from 4.5 billion years ago up to humankind’s impending demise. It hints at how that may be sooner than we think, as well as the earth’s resilience, and the promise of another chapter.” For its conclusion, and for the track which I am happy to premiere for you today, Bjørke partners up with Danish singers Josephine Philip and Hannah Schneider, who steer our final transition with spatial and ethereal vocals, which beautifully occupy the dreaded void found in between the pensive piano chords, deep bass, and the dissolving theme. It’s really a beautiful piece of music, which I am sure that you will love from your very first play.

Mother

Requiem

TRACK PREMIERE : Kasper Bjørke Quartet - Requiem

The Red Balloon

I usually try my best not to overwhelm you (and me) with too many write-ups and especially track premieres in a row in a single week, but as you can imagine, there is always an exception! In this case, it’s a wonderful piece by a French composer, Sylvain Texier, who releases music under the name Ô Lake. We first discovered this project back in 2018, with a video for a track from his debut album, Refuge, which subsequently appeared on my Best of the Year list. And although I have never met Texier in person, I could consider him a sonic companion on this musical journey we all find ourselves. I have even reworked a tender piece taken from his follow-up release, titled Gerry (Music inspired by the motion picture) (2021, Patchwork), which you can check out on his single, The Walk [Reworks]. Next year (sometime in March of 2023), Texier will return with a new album titled Still, once again released via Patchwork, with nine contemporary classical and cinematic pieces reflecting on calmness during which we can see just a little bit clearer, allowing the muddiness to settle down in the turbulent waters of our minds. The felt piano is back – you can bathe in its sound on the track I am premiering for you today, titled “Innocence”, but there is now a 40-piece orchestra and electronic rhythms. “From dramatic brilliance in sensitive and soothed delicacies to a meticulous production rendering justice to the subtle and intense grace of his new compositions, Ô Lake transports the listener, travelling in stillness, and beauty.” There are plenty of musical treats on the new album, but for now, let’s just experience “Innocence” in all of its fragility, honesty, and sincerity.

Still

Innocence

TRAK PREMIERE : Ô Lake - Innocence

Entremos Más Adentro En La Espesura.

www.openlab.fm | 106.4FM in Ibiza & Formentera
Check the full tracklist on our website:
https://openlab.fm/news/spirits-commune-014-phantom-limb-with-snowdrops

France chamber duo https://soundcloud.com/snowdrops_music are next up on https://soundcloud.com/phantomlimbgroup ongoing Spirits Commune series for OpenLab. Their mix covers music from Brian Eno, Christina Vantzou and Nils Frahm as well as cuts from Snowdrops' own catalogue.
Snowdrops will shortly release their beautiful new album Missing Island on Injazero Records. An eloquent miniature symphony of strings, piano and the notoriously challenging Ondes Martenot instrument ✨

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Spirits Commune 014 - Phantom Limb [with Snowdrops]

Wurm-Tribute

MuProject - 2024 - 01 - 18 WurmTribute - Take9.Wav

Star Quest is a track from the 31 live orchestral track album Revealing Destiny by Chris Nicolaides. I had the great privilege to co-compose and orchestrate this track with Chris. It was recorded with the Four For Music orchestra Sofia.
Buy the whole album:  http://www.chrisnicolaides.co.uk/buy-music/

MuProject - 2024 - 01 - 18 WurmTribute - Take9.Wav

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