modern classical / electronic
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Classical music and modern day electronics, it's a passionate love story, filled with romance, beauty and emotions. Some purists are clearly against such a love affair but even they can't deny that there are some amazing talents in this scene. Well, purists can deny everything, that's true but let's not mind them. Let's enjoy this fascinating album by Chicago based composer Shannon Hayden.
Hayden is a professionally trained cellist who loves to bend the rules of the game a little bit. Playing the cello since she was seven, she enrolled into the Yale School of Music at eighteen and worked with contemporary composers Ezra Laderman and David Lang. However, she wanted to explore the range of her instrument and the possibilities it has when combined with electronics.
That exploration eventually resulted in this album, a collection of 'guerrilla classics'. It opens with the mesmerizing song 'Vanished', which reminds me of acts like Banks or Austra, perhaps if they would work with Olafur Arnalds. Imagine what magic that cooperation would bring forth. Well, this is that kind of magic. 'Same' takes on a similar approach, be it darker, a bit more industrial related maybe but still hauntingly magical.
I really like the gloomy and moody sound of Shannon's music. It has a warm but mythical atmosphere. Yet, there are also a few odd surprises, like the folky, happy but a bit creepy 'Baggage'. It's almost a country tune but accompanied by deep electronic percussion. Then there's the very (too) short dark ambient 'Interlude', which is followed by another beautiful downtempo track 'Starshine'.
Oh man, 'Starshine' is beautiful. It reminds me a lot of Monophona. It combines classical cello with downtempo ambient and atmospheric post-rock. 'Accelerator' is another surprising and somewhat bizarre track. Comparing it to Zoviet France making an avant-garde classical piece wouldn't even be so far-fetched. 'Voices' brings back the dark ambient feel with its spooky sound and closer 'Silver Superstar' comes highly recommended for Apocalyptica fans (and Tangerine Dream fans too).
It's been awhile since I've turned a review into a song-by-song description. I was actually planing on no longer doing that because I believe there are always some things the reader should discover for himself. However, this album is so awe-inspiring that I had no choice but to mention each song separately. So yes, I am going to recommend this album to any fans of gloomy, slow and emotional music. Brilliant piece of work...
Serge
Hayden is a professionally trained cellist who loves to bend the rules of the game a little bit. Playing the cello since she was seven, she enrolled into the Yale School of Music at eighteen and worked with contemporary composers Ezra Laderman and David Lang. However, she wanted to explore the range of her instrument and the possibilities it has when combined with electronics.
That exploration eventually resulted in this album, a collection of 'guerrilla classics'. It opens with the mesmerizing song 'Vanished', which reminds me of acts like Banks or Austra, perhaps if they would work with Olafur Arnalds. Imagine what magic that cooperation would bring forth. Well, this is that kind of magic. 'Same' takes on a similar approach, be it darker, a bit more industrial related maybe but still hauntingly magical.
I really like the gloomy and moody sound of Shannon's music. It has a warm but mythical atmosphere. Yet, there are also a few odd surprises, like the folky, happy but a bit creepy 'Baggage'. It's almost a country tune but accompanied by deep electronic percussion. Then there's the very (too) short dark ambient 'Interlude', which is followed by another beautiful downtempo track 'Starshine'.
Oh man, 'Starshine' is beautiful. It reminds me a lot of Monophona. It combines classical cello with downtempo ambient and atmospheric post-rock. 'Accelerator' is another surprising and somewhat bizarre track. Comparing it to Zoviet France making an avant-garde classical piece wouldn't even be so far-fetched. 'Voices' brings back the dark ambient feel with its spooky sound and closer 'Silver Superstar' comes highly recommended for Apocalyptica fans (and Tangerine Dream fans too).
It's been awhile since I've turned a review into a song-by-song description. I was actually planing on no longer doing that because I believe there are always some things the reader should discover for himself. However, this album is so awe-inspiring that I had no choice but to mention each song separately. So yes, I am going to recommend this album to any fans of gloomy, slow and emotional music. Brilliant piece of work...
Serge
