Von seinem ersten Album „Minima Moralia“ („Excellent“ 8.1 Pitchfork) im Jahr 2006 bis hin zu den über 70 folgenden Alben hat Chihei Hatakeyama einen gewaltigen Kanon an Werken geschaffen.
Shun Ishiwaka, der mit Künstlern wie Ai Kuwabara, Hiroki Chiba, Kei Matsumaru, Gen Hoshino, Terumasa Hino, Tony Allen und unzähligen anderen zusammengearbeitet hat, ist einer der produktivsten Modern-Jazz-Schlagzeuger Japans.
Gemeinsam haben sie in Ambient-, Experimental-, Elektronik-, Pop-, Hip-Hop-, Jazz- und Metal-Projekten gespielt, und genau das repräsentiert diese neue Veröffentlichung - ein Treffen gleichgesinnter Musiker mit unzähligen Bezugspunkten, die an einem epochalen Punkt zusammenkommen, um ein Ambient-Werk zu produzieren, das vor Kreativität und Verständnis strotzt
Sie lernten sich bei Live-Auftritten im Radio kennen. Dies führte zu einer Reihe von Auftritten. Die Chemie stimmte sofort, und im März 2023 folgten die Aufnahmesitzungen für dieses 2-bändige Epos.
Zu Chiheis spezifischen Referenzen für die Gitarrenbearbeitung auf diesem Album gehören My Bloody Valentine, Les Rallizes Dénudés und Keiji Haino.
Beide Musiker schöpften aus ihrer Vorliebe für Free Jazz und Spiritual Jazz, insbesondere für die Werke von Alice Coltrane und später Sun Ra.
Psychoakustische Überlegungen, Zufall, Spontaneität und der Schnittpunkt, an dem Musiker in der Hitze des Gefechts aufeinander reagieren (oder auch nicht), waren allesamt Inspirationen für dieses bemerkenswerte Projekt, das in zwei separaten Teilen im Jahr 2024 veröffentlicht wird.
quête:alice v
Thou has always been a force of raw energy and unapologetic dissent, defying easy categorization and challenging listeners to confront the complexities of existence. Though often lumped in with New Orleans sludge bands like Eyehategod and Crowbar, Thou transcends genre boundaries, drawing inspiration from a diverse array of influences spanning from `90s proto-grunge icons like Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden (all of whom they've covered extensively) to the raw intensity of obscure `90s DIY hardcore punk found on labels like Ebullition, Vermiform, and Crimethinc. Their latest record Umbilical, Thou's first full-length release of original music since their 2018 Sacred Bones debut Magus, is their firmest nod to the latter - a record filled with mosh-ready riffs, heavy breakdowns and scathing vocals. The band's aesthetic and political impulses have always been punk and like anyone embroiled in the subculture Thou have been exploring what it means to exist within and without a rigid morality. That exploration takes thematic center on Umbilical and their self-assessment is as harsh as that of the world around them.
Thou has always been a force of raw energy and unapologetic dissent, defying easy categorization and challenging listeners to confront the complexities of existence. Though often lumped in with New Orleans sludge bands like Eyehategod and Crowbar, Thou transcends genre boundaries, drawing inspiration from a diverse array of influences spanning from `90s proto-grunge icons like Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden (all of whom they've covered extensively) to the raw intensity of obscure `90s DIY hardcore punk found on labels like Ebullition, Vermiform, and Crimethinc. Their latest record Umbilical, Thou's first full-length release of original music since their 2018 Sacred Bones debut Magus, is their firmest nod to the latter - a record filled with mosh-ready riffs, heavy breakdowns and scathing vocals. The band's aesthetic and political impulses have always been punk and like anyone embroiled in the subculture Thou have been exploring what it means to exist within and without a rigid morality. That exploration takes thematic center on Umbilical and their self-assessment is as harsh as that of the world around them.
"I was in a dream, but now I can see that change is the only law." With a credo adapted from science fiction author Octavia E. Butler, an album title from a collection of metaphysical poetry, and an expansion in consciousness brought on by personal crisis, guitarist and songwriter Shana Cleveland learns to embrace a changing world with unconditional love on News of the Universe, the new full-length from California rock band La Luz. News of the Universe is a record born of calamity, a work of dark, beautiful psychedelia reflecting Cleveland's experience of having her world blown apart by a breast cancer diagnosis just two years after the birth of her son. It's also a portrait of a band in flux, marking the first appearance for drummer Audrey Johnson and the final ones from longtime members bassist Lena Simon and keyboardist Alice Sandahl, whose contributions add a bittersweet edge to a record that is both elegy for an old world and cosmic road map to a strange new one. But is there any band in the world more suited to capturing the chaos of change in all its messy beauty than La Luz? Formed by Cleveland in 2012, La Luz is beloved for their ability to balance bedlam and bliss, each new record another fine-tuning of the band's mix of swaggering riffs with angelic vocals borrowed from doo-wop and folk; a band so reliably great that it makes the huge step forward in confidence and sheer musicality that is News of the Universe all the more formidable. Cleveland, also a writer and painter, has developed into a truly original songwriter with her own canon of haunted psychedelia. Yet if Cleveland has spent years writing songs about ghosts, what lurks in the shadows of News of the Universe is nothing less than death itself. "There are moments on this album that sound to me like the last frantic confession before an asteroid destroys the earth," says Cleveland. The powerful sense of openness that permeates News of the Universe is at least partially due to the fact that it is a record made entirely by women-from the performing, writing, and producing all the way through to the recording, engineering, and mastering. Working with producer Maryam Qudos (Spacemoth), the all-female environment allowed Cleveland to feel safe tapping into difficult places and expressing hard emotions women are socialized to suppress. Unashamedly vulnerable, unabashedly feminine, and undeniably triumphant, News of the Universe is another knockout record from a band so reliably great that it has perhaps led people to overlook how pioneering La Luz really are: women of color in indie music forging their own path by following their own artistic star into galaxies beyond current musical trends, always led by an earnest belief in the cosmic power of love and a great riff. Never is that more true than on News of the Universe, which might be La Luz's most brutal record to date but also their most blissful.
Tillla is 19 year old prodigal piano player Mateo Davis, a graduate of Purcell (Tirzah, Mica Levi, Jacob Collier) & a polymath musician, producer & mixer.
Third Person is Tillla's debut EP, a 13 track sprawling opus the then-18-yr-old made alone in his bedroom on a modular synth and dodgy copy of Ableton. The musicianship, depth and technical creativity in this record really is something that should be noted.
- Retopia (Feat. Chase Guerin)
- Delayed Green
- Silhouette
- Pyramid
- We Are More (Feat. J. Hoard)
- Peace Of Mind (Feat. Kokayi & Debo Ray)
- Ginger Ale
- Day By Day (Feat. Cisco Swank & Zacchae'a Paul)
- Pen And Paper
- Infinity (Feat. Georgia Anne Muldrow)
- Something In The Air (Feat. Zacchae'us Paul & Melanie Charles)
- Home And Heroine
"“A jazz artist to watch” (NPR) and “a virtuoso in the truest sense of the word” (JazzTimes), Morgan Guerin spent nearly a year crafting his multi-dimensional Tales Of The Facade, layering instruments and sounds track upon track. And while an impressive amount of the album is performed solely by Guerin, he also enlisted stellar collaborators, including Georgia Anne Muldrow, Melanie Charles, Cisco Swank, Zacchae’us Paul, J Hoard, and Kokayi. Despite Guerin’s widespread acclaim as a jazz artist, it would be reductive to call this a ""jazz album." "It touches a lot of different periods and styles of music," Guerin explains. "Wayne Shorter and John and Alice Coltrane are big influences, but so are people like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Minnie Riperton, and Kendrick Lamar. I wanted all of those sounds to be represented. ” What’s left in the grooves obliterates concepts of genre even as it celebrates genres themselves. Now signed to Candid, Guerin’s music will finally reach an audience as vast and diverse as his musical vision."
Elevating, uplifting and beautifully arranged. Jasmine Myra's sophomore album Rising builds on the success of her
breakthrough album Horizons to deliver a major statement from one of UK Jazz's rising stars. Produced by Matthew Halsall and mixed by Greg Freeman (Hania Rani, Matthew Halsall, Portico Quartet), Rising delivers a confident and vibrant follow up that joins the musical dots between Myra’s influences Kenny Wheeler, Bonobo and Shabaka Hutchings while delivering something unique, beautiful and profound.
Rising is also the sound of a composer and performer growing in stature and adding extra layers of confidence and poise to both her playing and composing. Aided and abetted by Matthew Halsall who once again lends his production skills, Rising is fuller, richer and deeper as Myra develops her uniquely uplifting sound.
Much like my first album, Rising is a reflection of a period of my life. It is a continuation from Horizons, which was all about my experience during lockdown, and entailed overcoming my struggles with mental health. Following on from that experience, I set out to continue building my self-confidence. This album has an uplifting and spiritual sound, drawing influence from artists such as Makaya McCraven, Bonobo and Shabaka Hutchings.
Rising features the same core of musicians as Myra’s debut album Horizons (Gondwana records GOND052): guitarist Ben Haskins, drummer George Hall pianist Jasper Green, harpist Alice Roberts (who both also perform with Matthew Halsall) and bassist Sam Quintana who collectively bring a deft understating of the subtle textures of Myra’s music and perform with a collective empathy and drive that really pushes the music on a radiant journey. And a string quartet add gently elevating textures to Still Waters, Knowingness, From Embers and How Tall The Mountains.
Elevating, uplifting and beautifully arranged. Jasmine Myra's sophomore album Rising builds on the success of her
breakthrough album Horizons to deliver a major statement from one of UK Jazz's rising stars. Produced by Matthew Halsall and mixed by Greg Freeman (Hania Rani, Matthew Halsall, Portico Quartet), Rising delivers a confident and vibrant follow up that joins the musical dots between Myra’s influences Kenny Wheeler, Bonobo and Shabaka Hutchings while delivering something unique, beautiful and profound.
Rising is also the sound of a composer and performer growing in stature and adding extra layers of confidence and poise to both her playing and composing. Aided and abetted by Matthew Halsall who once again lends his production skills, Rising is fuller, richer and deeper as Myra develops her uniquely uplifting sound.
Much like my first album, Rising is a reflection of a period of my life. It is a continuation from Horizons, which was all about my experience during lockdown, and entailed overcoming my struggles with mental health. Following on from that experience, I set out to continue building my self-confidence. This album has an uplifting and spiritual sound, drawing influence from artists such as Makaya McCraven, Bonobo and Shabaka Hutchings.
Rising features the same core of musicians as Myra’s debut album Horizons (Gondwana records GOND052): guitarist Ben Haskins, drummer George Hall pianist Jasper Green, harpist Alice Roberts (who both also perform with Matthew Halsall) and bassist Sam Quintana who collectively bring a deft understating of the subtle textures of Myra’s music and perform with a collective empathy and drive that really pushes the music on a radiant journey. And a string quartet add gently elevating textures to Still Waters, Knowingness, From Embers and How Tall The Mountains.
The complete iconic Bill Evans LP Sunday at the Village Vanguard, featuring Scott LaFaro on bass, and Paul Motian on drums. LaFaro would die in a car accident shortly after this LP was recorded. Contains perennial versions of "Solar," "Gloria's Step," and "Alice in Wonderland." This edition also offers an exclusive collector's item consisting of a replica of the very rare Japanese 7" disc Riverside single SR-3033, containing Evans' readings of "My Foolish Heart" and "Polka Dots and Moonbeams."
THE COMPLETE LP + 1 BONUS TRACK - PLUS 7" BONUS SINGLE ON COLORED VINYL INCLUDED INSIDE - 180-GRAM VIRGIN VINYL - LIMITED EDITION
John Cassavetes’ directorial debut Shadows was a largely improvised film set in the bohemian jazz scene of 1950s New York; often referred to as the first truly independent film of American cinema, it featured a brief disjointed soundtrack improvised by Charles Mingus and his saxophonist Shafi Hadi, with various percussionists slotting in, including Phineas Newborn Jr. Gloriously messy, reportedly unfinished and referred to with scorn by Mingus, the Shadows soundtrack sketches ultimately yielded the great ‘Nostalgia In Times Square’ ‘Alice’s Wonderland’ and ‘Self-Portrait In Three Colours,’ all included here – astounding!
Dieses Album enthält ausführliche Anmerkungen von Gründungsmitglied Harry Howard und wird zusammen mit den 2024-Remaster-Editionen ihres Debütalbums 'Get Lost (Don't Lie!)' und ihres zweiten Albums 'I'm Never Gonna Die Again' veröffentlicht. Auf der Tracklist dieses Albums finden sich ihre mitreißende, treibende Neuinterpretation von Alice Coopers 'Luney Tune' aus dem Jahr 1972 sowie Coverversionen von 'Open Up and Bleed' von Iggy Pop & James Williamson, 'Some Velvet Morning' von Lee Hazlewood, das Leadsänger Rowland S. Howard vor allem mit Lydia Lynch coverte, und 'Hey! Little Child' von Alex Chilton.
Die Band bestand aus dem in Australien geborenen Rowland S. Howard, der als Nick Caves Mitstreiter bei der Birthday Party bekannt wurde, seinem Bass spielenden Bruder Harry Howard, dem Schlagzeuger Epic Soundtracks (früher bei Swell Maps und Jacobites) und der Keyboarderin Genevieve McGuckin. Sie schlossen sich 1987 zusammen, nachdem Soundtracks und die Howard-Brüder sich von Crime & the City Solution getrennt hatten, und gründeten zusammen mit McGuckin These Immortal Souls in London.
Es gibt nur wenige Alben in der Geschichte der zeitgenössischen amerikanischen Musik, die die Bezeichnung ”Original Jazz Classic” mehr verdienen. Es ist das erste von zwei Riverside-Alben, die vom legendären letzten Auftritt des ersten Bill Evans Trios stammen - aufgenommen am letzten Tag eines Village VanguardEngagements, kaum zehn Tage vor dem tragischen Tod des Bassisten Scott LaFaro. Die Aufnahmen sind seit langem bekannt dafür, dass sie die Essenz der einzigartigen Interaktion zwischen den drei Musikern einfangen, die das Trio auszeichnete.
Diese Neuauflage von Sunday At The Village Vanguard erscheint als Teil der OJC-Serie und wurde bei RTI auf 180-Gramm-Vinyl gepresst.
Jon Langford's been in more bands than you have digits and that's true even if you were born with a few extras! From his early days in Mekons, Delta 5, Three Johns and even Sisters Of Mercy (booted for not wearing black) to a veritable explosion of one-off recordings and performances with more names than we could ever hope to list in full. A Wikipedia description for this group, The Bright Shiners (described therein as 'circa 2022 through at least 2023, in Northern California') provides some sense of the complex taxonomy needed just to keep track of Jon's massive oeuvre. Happily, that's an understated description of a serious new outlet for his endless creativity, and The Bright Shiners' recording activities have produced a full album, Where It Really Starts, the first recording in a collaboration with Tamineh Gueramy, Alice Spencer, and Jon's frequent musical partner, John Szymanski. Jon's never sung or written better, and the sense that the band realised they were onto something great is palpable in an instant. Each song is a minimalistic jewel - there's nothing here that doesn't need to be - yet the album is unsparing of aptly astonishing adornment - wonderful harmonies, horns, mellotron, bowed guitar, piano. looped percussion and more), by our reckoning this is one of Jon's finest works of art and his best outfit outside The Mekons themselves Jon Langford & the Bright Shiners will tour mercilessly throughout 2024.
- 1: Island In The Sun
- 1: 2General Hospital
- 1: 3Hiroshima Mon Amour
- 1: 4All Night Long (Live)
- 1: 5Since You've Been Gone (Live)
- 1: 6Night Games (Live)
- 1: 7Stripper
- 1: 8Painted Lover
- 1: 9Sons And Lovers
- 2: 1God Blessed Video
- 2: Mercy
- 2: 3It's My Life
- 2: 4Dangerous Games
- 2: 5Undercover
- 2: 6No Imagination
- 2: 7Kree Nakoorie
Red Vinyl[36,09 €]
Alcatrazz was Jimmy Waldo's teddy bear's name as a kid, from there the band chose the name; originally they were to go with "The Rosie O'Donnell Experience", but later felt that would indicate sympathy with the celebrity. The band's initial line-up consisted of Graham Bonnet (lead vocals), Yngwie Malmsteen (guitar), Gary Shea (bass), Jimmy Waldo (keyboards, vocals) and Jan Uvena (drums, vocals). Shea And Waldo were previously members of the group New England. Uvena had worked with Alice Cooper. Malmsteen had been in the Swedish Prog-Metal band Silver Mountain and had recently come to the US and joined the band Steeler for one album. Alcatrazz's material was written by Malmsteen, Bonnet, Waldo and Vai. Shea dubbed the group "Alcatrazz". Features all of their greatest hits.
- 1: Island In The Sun
- 1: 2General Hospital
- 1: 3Hiroshima Mon Amour
- 1: 4All Night Long (Live)
- 1: 5Since You've Been Gone (Live)
- 1: 6Night Games (Live)
- 1: 7Stripper
- 1: 8Painted Lover
- 1: 9Sons And Lovers
- 2: 1God Blessed Video
- 2: Mercy
- 2: 3It's My Life
- 2: 4Dangerous Games
- 2: 5Undercover
- 2: 6No Imagination
- 2: 7Kree Nakoorie
Red Marbled[42,82 €]
Alcatrazz was Jimmy Waldo's teddy bear's name as a kid, from there the band chose the name; originally they were to go with "The Rosie O'Donnell Experience", but later felt that would indicate sympathy with the celebrity. The band's initial line-up consisted of Graham Bonnet (lead vocals), Yngwie Malmsteen (guitar), Gary Shea (bass), Jimmy Waldo (keyboards, vocals) and Jan Uvena (drums, vocals). Shea And Waldo were previously members of the group New England. Uvena had worked with Alice Cooper. Malmsteen had been in the Swedish Prog-Metal band Silver Mountain and had recently come to the US and joined the band Steeler for one album. Alcatrazz's material was written by Malmsteen, Bonnet, Waldo and Vai. Shea dubbed the group "Alcatrazz". Features all of their greatest hits.
Earth, Our Planet?”: A call for environmental awareness. This time, Pedro Vian - the founder of Modern Obscure Music - presents his fourth solo album (following his 2020 release, "Ibillorca"). Due for release in spring 2024, "Earth, Our Planet?" promises to immerse us in a moving odyssey, crossing the boundaries of musical genres to provoke an urgent meditation on the protection of our planet. On this occasion Vian has composed the album influenced by the myth of the eternal return, the compositions are long and repetitive, generating states of pure trance.
Pedro Vian, singular for his fusion of genres and styles, ventures into even more complex territories in "Earth, Our Planet?". From the first listen, it is evident that this work treads the line of convention and breaks the boundaries of electronic and experimental music with artistic dexterity. The album weaves together texture, hypnotic rhythms and melody. Each track reveals his distinctive ability to create immersive landscapes, guiding the listener into deep emotional introspection. This is not just music; it is a transformative experience.
The beauty of this album lies not only in the musical vision. The album features high-calibre collaborations that add layers of creativity and elegance. Trumpeter Pierre Bastien, whose early productions left an indelible mark on Aphex Twin's Reflex label, infuses "A Day in Rotterdam" with a unique emotional resonance. Violinist, Asia, renowned for her avant-garde approach and ability to conjure unique landscapes, elevates the album's opening tracks "Urobóros" and "Les Tambours Subterraniens". Their skill and sensitivity intertwine perfectly with Vian's artistic vision. In addition, Italian producer Daniele Mana, with whom Pedro Vian collaborated closely on his previous album "Cascades", known for his experimental approach and talent for creating extraterrestrial atmospheres also contributes to "Les Tambours Subterraniens". His artistic perspective adds more complexity and texture to the piece, pushing the boundaries of contemporary electronic music. There is also a collaboration with Raül Refree, an artist with whom Vian worked with last year, presenting “Font De la Vera Pau”, an album that The Guardian defined as "a wonderful piece of electroacoustic music, a captivating mix of strings and analogue synth drones which sometimes flirts with Alice Coltrane-ish spiritual jazz". With "Earth, Our Planet?", Pedro Vian not only offers up some of his best work to date, but it is also a call to reflect on our relationship with the natural world. As a part of a planet where environmental awareness is more crucial than ever, he urges us to protect and preserve our world as an extension of ourselves. This extensive work is a statement, Vian addresses the notion that too often we prioritise immediate needs over the well-being of the planet. It highlights the fact that we often consider the Earth as a possession when, in reality, we are but a part of it.
Stone Temple Pilots roared on to the scene in 1992 with their raucous debut Core. A breakout success, the album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, dominated radio waves with hits like "Sex Type Thing" and "Wicked Garden," and has been certified 8x platinum by the RIAA. The band also took home the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for their smash single "Plush."
Although it faced initial criticisms for being derivative of other grunge bands, such as Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains, time has gained Core recognition as a classic of the 1990s alternative rock era and remains a pivotal album in the Stone Temple Pilot's discography. Critics praised the band's musicianship, Scott Weiland's charismatic vocals, and the album's songwriting.
Core showcases a diverse range of musical styles, blending elements of alternative rock, grunge, hard rock, and even psychedelic influences. The band's sound is characterized by powerful guitar riffs and a melodic bassline.
The album strikes a balance between heavy, grunge-infused tracks and more introspective, melodic compositions. Songs such as "Sex Type Thing" and "Wicked Garden" exemplify the band's heavier, hard rock side, while tracks like "Plush" and "Creep" showcase their ability to craft emotionally charged, radio-friendly ballads. The album's eclectic mix of styles contributed to its widespread appeal and longevity in the alternative rock scene.
The top-notch Analogue Productions reissue earmarks are all here: Mastered directly from the original master tape by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound and cut at 45 RPM. Pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings, and housed in tip-on old style gatefold double pocket jackets with film lamination by Stoughton Printing.
PEACH COLOURED VINYL[26,01 €]
Following their critically acclaimed 2019 debut album Unfurl, Hidden Notes Records are happy to announce the release of the multi-award-nominated experimental/contemporary folk string duo Fran & Flora’s sophomore full-length album, Precious Collection. Released on Friday 12th April 2024, this album, produced by the duo themselves, explodes in myriad directions expressing the richness of the long-standing collaboration between Francesca Ter-Berg (cello/vocals/electronics) and Flora Curzon (violin/vocals/electronics). With Klezmer and Yiddish song as the predominant inspiration for the record, Precious Collection defies convention, featuring self-penned tunes and unique arrangements pushing their ground-breaking project beyond their virtuosic string playing. Drummers Ursula Russell (Snapped Ankles, Alabaster DePlume) and Simon Roth (Chris Potter, Alice Zawadzki, Adrian Dunbar) feature on the record on full kit and Ukrainian Poik (marching drum) respectively, and Francesca and Flora experiment with bowed cymbals, extended piano techniques, and samples of found sounds.The album was recorded in three different locations - Total Refreshment Centre (London), Big Jelly Studios (Ramsgate) and Great North Sound Society (Maine, USA). The music of Fran & Flora sits in two camps, both steeped in tradition, with material drawn directly from archival recordings, recovered manuscripts and years of study with traditional music masters, whilst simultaneously garnering a contemporary and avant-garde aesthetic, speaking to the more classical and experimental listener. Fran & Flora inject their source material with drones, loops, free improvisation and electronics to create a ‘border-defying’ (Mojo) sound. Their influences range across a wide spectrum of artists and composers from Silver Mt.Zion to Rhiannon Giddens, Lankum, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Colin Stetson, Adrienne Lenker, Shabaka Hutchings and Mica Levi. As string players Fran & Flora’s collaborations together and separately includes performing with the likes of Tom Skinner, Portico Quartet, Imogen Heap, Riz Ahmed, Sam Lee, Talvin Singh, Jocelyn Pook, Hannah Peel and The Vernon Spring. Within the global Klezmer community they have worked with Zoe Aqua, London Klezmer Quartet, Sashe Lurje, Craig Judelman, Merlin & Polina Shepherd and Frank London, and have taught at Klezmer music camps including at Klezfest London, contributing to ongoing research and revival work.
Black[26,01 €]
Following their critically acclaimed 2019 debut album Unfurl, Hidden Notes Records are happy to announce the release of the multi-award-nominated experimental/contemporary folk string duo Fran & Flora’s sophomore full-length album, Precious Collection. Released on Friday 12th April 2024, this album, produced by the duo themselves, explodes in myriad directions expressing the richness of the long-standing collaboration between Francesca Ter-Berg (cello/vocals/electronics) and Flora Curzon (violin/vocals/electronics). With Klezmer and Yiddish song as the predominant inspiration for the record, Precious Collection defies convention, featuring self-penned tunes and unique arrangements pushing their ground-breaking project beyond their virtuosic string playing. Drummers Ursula Russell (Snapped Ankles, Alabaster DePlume) and Simon Roth (Chris Potter, Alice Zawadzki, Adrian Dunbar) feature on the record on full kit and Ukrainian Poik (marching drum) respectively, and Francesca and Flora experiment with bowed cymbals, extended piano techniques, and samples of found sounds.The album was recorded in three different locations - Total Refreshment Centre (London), Big Jelly Studios (Ramsgate) and Great North Sound Society (Maine, USA). The music of Fran & Flora sits in two camps, both steeped in tradition, with material drawn directly from archival recordings, recovered manuscripts and years of study with traditional music masters, whilst simultaneously garnering a contemporary and avant-garde aesthetic, speaking to the more classical and experimental listener. Fran & Flora inject their source material with drones, loops, free improvisation and electronics to create a ‘border-defying’ (Mojo) sound. Their influences range across a wide spectrum of artists and composers from Silver Mt.Zion to Rhiannon Giddens, Lankum, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Colin Stetson, Adrienne Lenker, Shabaka Hutchings and Mica Levi. As string players Fran & Flora’s collaborations together and separately includes performing with the likes of Tom Skinner, Portico Quartet, Imogen Heap, Riz Ahmed, Sam Lee, Talvin Singh, Jocelyn Pook, Hannah Peel and The Vernon Spring. Within the global Klezmer community they have worked with Zoe Aqua, London Klezmer Quartet, Sashe Lurje, Craig Judelman, Merlin & Polina Shepherd and Frank London, and have taught at Klezmer music camps including at Klezfest London, contributing to ongoing research and revival work.




















