Full length debut from Hidden Orchestra on Tru Thoughts. The Edinburgh-based band is the acute artistic vision of Joe Acheson, a classically trained multi-instrumentalist, composer, music producer, sound designer and producer/presenter of radio documentaries for stations including BBC Radio 3 and 1Xtra. That being said, you can bet that Night Walks is going to be a rewarding listening experience, especially for fans of lush, cinematic downtempo a la late 90's Ninja Tune or Cinematic Orchestra. the album is loaded with natural/ acoustic elements mixed with subtle electronics that paint vivid pictures through sound. Tru Thoughts says it best: "Formerly known as the Joe Acheson Quartet, Hidden Orchestra have long been championed by BBC Radio 1's Introducing in Scotland and other shows including BBC Scotland's Jazz House, and they enjoy an enviable reputation for their stunning live gigs. Acheson secured funding from the Scottish Arts Council to facilitate the recording of "Night Walks", allowing him to explore the almost boundless potential of his ideas to the full. There are dozens of layers in every track - usually around six different drum kits in each tune – and some use more than 100 channels of audio. Other innovative and intricate processes he used include sampling improvising musicians, and having them multi-track large orchestras part by part from his musical scores. Strong classical and sacred choral influences (Debussy, Bach, Stravinsky, William Byrd, Arvo Part, plainsong) meld with reference points from John Martyn and Radiohead through to Madlib, Godspeed, Xploding Plastix and Squarepusher; and field recordings, such as rain in the opener, "Antiphon", and birdsong chopped into the beats of the closing track, "Undergrowth". 10 tracks in all.
Von Bee
Hidden Orchestra - Wandering [Live]
