Photo: James Styler

News of a new album from Manu Delago fills us with excitement. Following the release of Circadian, which was one of our 15 Albums Picks of 2019, the staggeringly talented Austrian percussionist and composer has announced the release of a live version of the record. Entitled Circadian Live, and slated for a September 18th release through One Little Independent Records, the upcoming album was recorded last year while touring Circadian in Europe with his ensemble. Speaking about the live album, Delago stated:

“Out of over 1000 gigs that I’ve played, this is the one programme that I wanted to make a live album of. Since being a student 10 years ago, I’ve dreamt of having my own ensemble that’s big enough to have an orchestral sound quality, but small enough to give space to individual characters and to be a tight rhythmic union. After a long journey the 9-piece Circadian Ensemble evolved, consisting of three percussionists, three wind players and three strings.

I handpicked some of my favourite musicians and tried to feature their unique style in the compositions and arrangements. On the Circadian Tour we performed 18 concerts within 21 days which were all recorded. The intense schedule gave us the opportunity to develop and improve the music on a daily basis, unlike most big orchestral productions where usually there aren’t many performances. The ensemble grew together day by day and the album to me is a symbol of togetherness.”

Circadian was inspired and informed by the concept of the body’s internal clock known as Circadian rhythms, in particular Delago’s disruption of his own sleep cycles as a busy musician collaborating and touring with the likes of Bjork, Anoushka Shankar, Poppy Ackroyd, the London Symphony Orchestra and Olafur Arnalds, amongst many others. On Circadian Live, and as the press release explains, this theme is fully explored, evolving into “an honest retelling as well as something completely of itself.”

The majestic live version of ‘Uranus’ is the first single to be unveiled from Circadian Live and it invites you to hit the play button again as soon as it concludes.

Staggeringly talented Austrian percussionist and composer Manu Delago has a much anticipated new record on the way, Circadian, and last month he enticed us with the bewitching lead single ‘The Silent Flight of the Owl’. As if we needed any more reasons to be excited for the release of Circadian, Delago has unveiled an explosive masterpiece of a song called ‘Zeitgeber’. Circadian is inspired by the concept of the body’s internal clock known as Circadian rhythms, and ‘Zeitgeber’ “represents the morning hours – a sort of ‘musical alarm clock’”, as Delago explained. Picked as the album’s closing track, ‘Zeitgeber’ “starts another precious day.” There’s a terrific video accompanying the track, directed by Jeb Hardwick. Watch it below.

Circadian is out on September 13th through One Little Indian Records

Earlier this month, Manu Delago announced the release of a new album, Circadian, and gifted us with the bewitching lead single ‘The Silent Flight of the Owl’. Now he has unveiled a gorgeous live video for the song, featuring his new ensemble. The video was directed by Jeb Hardwick. Watch it below.

Circadian is out on September 13th through One Little Indian Records.

A pioneer of the hang and one of the most interesting contemporary musicians, Manu Delago‘s technical ability and creativity knows no bounds. His album and film Parasol Peak, a giant sonic venture recorded with an ensemble of seven musicians on a mountaineering expedition in the Alps, was one of our 15 Albums Picks of 2018 and remains an absolute favourite. So we´re thrilled to know the Austrian percussionist and composer is ready to follow it up with a new album called Circadian. The album takes its name and inspiration from the concept of the body’s internal clock known as Circadian rhythms. A busy musician, collaborating and touring with the likes of Bjork, Anoushka Shankar, Poppy Ackroyd, the London Symphony Orchestra and Olafur Arnalds, amongst many more, the disruption of his own sleep cycles inform the album. “Before I made this album I had a phase of very intense touring with multiple trips to five different continents, without a break for several months”, explained Delago. “It literally felt like touring with four bands simultaneously and in my dreams the music and crews started to commingle. I found it interesting how my brain was trying to digest all these experiences during sleep hours. In fact, during REM sleep the brain is very creative. In that stressful touring period, I started to consciously appreciate sleep and how much it contributes to mastering any challenge.”

Circadian will see the light of day on September 13th through One Little Indian Records. Ahead of it, Delago is enticing us with the bewitching lead single ‘The Silent Flight of the Owl’. The track, written to emulate the sound of an owl’s wings, is an ode to an experience he had had: “I had an encounter with an owl while I was brushing my teeth late at night. The owl landed a metre away from me just outside the window on the ledge. It is very unusual for owls to come that close. When I told the story to the people who lived there, they didn’t believe me.” Wrap your ears around ‘The Silent Flight of the Owl’ now.