Le Guess Who?’s Who 2018: Orchestra of Spheres

19 October 2018

There’s just three weeks to go before Le Guess Who? takes over Utrecht. With over 150 artists set to perform, how do we make sense of such a monumental line-up? We made a list of the artists we’re most excited to see and asked them for their recommendations.

Orchestra of Spheres

Official Website

Performing Saturday 10th November at Kytopia, curated by Shabaka Hutchings

New Zealand’s Orchestra of Spheres have us under their spell for a long time now. An incredibly inventive and outlandish band, they explore and experiment with an array of influences and genres from all over the place using a selection of handmade instruments. The band’s eccentric and ecstatic live shows are something that truly must not be missed and have earned them fans everywhere. And as if we weren’t already excited enough to see them at Le Guess Who?, Orchestra of Spheres have a brand new album on the way, Mirror, releasing on November 2nd. Have a look at their recommendations for the festival, with a few words from the band’s Baba Rossa (aka Daniel Beban).

Nicole Mitchell

Official Website

Performing Saturday 10th November at TivoliVredenburg, curated by Moor Mother

“Chicago’s AACM has had a profound influence on creative Wellington musicians musically and philosophically. They don’t know it but we feel like they’re our brothers and sisters : ) Nicole Mitchell’s on of the great flutists currently working in the so-called jazz world.”

 

Pan Daijing

Official Website

Performing Sunday 11th November at TivoliVredenburg, curated by Moor Mother

“Very keen to check out Pan Daijin who’s got a particularly fresh way of working … somehow quite traditional and super avant garde at the same time.”

 

Lonnie Holley

Official Website

Performing Thursday 8th November at TivoliVredenburg

“Lonnie Holley’s album ‘Just Before Music’ was on constant rotate on one of our OOS tours a few years ago… so beautiful, gets under your skin.”

Le Guess Who? will take place 8-11 November. For the full line-up, tickets and more info visit leguesswho.com. And take a look at other artists we’re excited about picking their own Le Guess Who?’s Who.

Beverly Glenn-Copeland: first European performances of classic album Keyboard Fantasies this November

17 October 2018

Canadian artist Beverly Glenn-Copeland has been in it for the long haul, creating extraordinary and pioneering compositions for over three decades. A jack of all trades, Copeland not only plays several instruments and sings sublimely, but his work and life spans a multitude of other areas, from being a transgender artist to being a playwright. Now 74, he has only recently been getting attention, after a Japanese collector rediscovered his music, namely the album Keyboard Fantasies, which was reissued on vinyl last year via Invisible City. Mixing elements of folk, electronics and jazz, Keyboard Fantasies is a timeless album that sounded far ahead of its time when Copeland first self-released it in 1986.

Next month and for the first time ever, Copeland will bring Keyboard Fantasies to Europe, accompanied by his band Indigo Rising, with a very special performance in store at Le Guess Who?, curated by Devendra Banhart as well as Moor Mother. For a marvellous taste, take a look at this gorgeous video of Beverly Glenn-Copeland and Indigo Rising performing the opener ‘Evernew’.

Listen to Saloli’s second single ‘Revolver’

15 October 2018

Photo: Christal Angelique

Saloli’s debut album The Deep End is excitingly nearing its release date. The pianist and composer first enticed us with the gorgeous and spellbinding opener ‘Barcarolle’, followed earlier this month by another gem called ‘Revolver’. Take a listen below and grab the album when it drops on October 26th through Kranky.

Watch Szun Waves’ video for ‘Moon Runes’

02 October 2018

A firm favourite this year, Szun Waves‘ second album New Hymn To Freedom grabbed us by the heart and refuses to let go. The trio’s third single, the transcendent ‘Moon Runes’, has been laced with a gorgeous video by director/AV designer Sam Wiehl, who had this to say:

“The new visual continues the themes of deep space geography and landscape coupled with ideas around microbiology and microorganisms. Content in this video and the previous video for ‘Constellation’ were designed to be used in the band’s new live AV show.”

Watch the video below.

New Hymn To Freedom is out now on The Leaf Label.

Liars unveil new video for ‘Murdrum’ off new album Titles With The Word Fountain

01 October 2018

Photo: Zen Sekizawa

Liars re-emerged last year in full force as the solo project of singer and guitarist Angus Andrew. Following the release of TFCF, Liars has just released its sequel Titles With The Word Fountain, digitally and on cassette, with a vinyl edition arriving on November 2nd through Mute.

We had already heard and loved the first single ‘Murdrum’, and now Liars unveiled a video for it directed by Australian filmmaker and photographer Riley Blakeway. Angus Andrew had this to say:

“Riley has made something beautifully cinematic and horrifyingly evocative here. Shot in the Australian bush, it brings to light the frightening qualities of the natural environment within which the song was written. The use of thermal footage to emphasize “Murdrum’s” haunting qualities really freaks me out.”

Watch the video below.

Colin Stetson scores new series ‘The First’

30 September 2018

New music from sax super hero and composer Colin Stetson is always marvellous news. After composing the soundtrack for Hereditary last Spring, Stetson has scored a new series called The First, which debuted this month on Hulu. His music was crucial for the series as a creative element, as Executive Producer Beau Willimon explains:

“More than anything, it was Colin Stetson’s music that inspired the creation of The First. His compositions and performance style were unlike anything I had ever heard. They take you on a vast journey, both epic and intimate.”

Stetson also commented on it:

“The music of The First is built on a foundation of stark and intimate qualities as exemplified by much of my solo saxophone repertoire, enhanced and expanded upon in every direction, from the epic orchestral character of horn and low brass fanfare, to the fragility and humanly intimate nature of muted solo piano. The breadth and scope of the overall narrative, comprised of these many real and extremely human stories of ambition, of love, and of grief and loss, has made it possible for me to fully explore such a multitude of aural approaches, resulting in a score which is as sonically and stylistically disparate as the personal stories of each of our characters, woven together by the common thread and themes of this grand shared purpose and of the sacrifices made by all in it’s service.”

The soundtrack came out last Friday on New Deal/Record Collection, with a vinyl edition due out later this winter. The chilling and magnificent ‘The End’ is now available to stream. Take a listen below.