Origamibiro - Shakkei

  by Maarten Schiethart

published: 9 / 1 / 2012

---

Composer and self-styled sonic artist Tom Hill; video producer Jim Boall, using the moniker The Joy of Box, and Andy Tytherleigh together make up Origamibiro, London's finest post-electronica classical combo of today. Their backgrounds lie in Wauvenfold, who were Wichita Recording artists that were often featured on the John Peel show. 'Shakkei' is pure chamber music of today and is even romantic in tone, as for example on 'Brother of Dusk & Umber', the closing piece, which is rich with references to Liszt, the composer. There is a captivating variety and rainy atmosphere on display on 'Impressions of Football' which kicks off 'Shakkei'. It also has the drizzly touch of Michael Nyman and Max Richter. The album includes found recordings taken from the tube, and that's perhaps where 'Shakkei' came to field such a joyous little piece of music. Vibrant jazz breaks merging with tardy old violin riffs fill the room, as the Origami Bros sat and recorded the tube trains of London roll on and roll off. That's not just all; the compositional talents of Tom Hill and Andy Tytherleigh, the perfect team, add a monumental dimension. Origamibiro send shivers down my spine. 'Dismantle Piece' is a track of haunting beauty, upon which a brass section digs constantly deeper. It creates excitement and wonder that such a wealth of music opens up minds. Suspense and the gravest of violin play, accompanied by subtle glockenspiel on the appropriately named 'Ballerina Platform Shoes', intertwines with the calm and predictable sounds from urban rail transport arriving and leaving. The intermezzo of 'Flotsam Drift' adds an acoustic Durutti Column flavour. To those who never travelled on the London tube, well, it may smell of urine and soft drinks, as in sugary sour. Perhaps unwantonly, this album captures just such a feeling of scent and sense. 'Shakkei' builds from around the realms of drizzle, transport and in the end harmony in sound, yet it always has a new flavour in store. Origamibiro's kammerspiel sounds ever so mature already. On 'Shakkei' a violin can appear as if it could cut through sheet music. 'Shakkei' does away with borders, existing between acoustics and electronica, without ever becoming methodical, as it would in 'folktronica'. The highlight must be the disharmonic drone music towards the end of 'Nootaikok'.

Track Listing:-

1 Impressions of Footfall
2 Sphaera
3 Dismantle Piece
4 Ballerina Platform Shoes
5 Quad Time and the Genius of the Crowd
6 Sedimental Value
7 Nootaikok
8 Flotsam Drift
9 Brother of Dusk & Umber

Band Links:-

http://www.origamibiro.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Origamibiro
https://twitter.com/origamibiro

Label Links:-

http://www.abandonbuilding.com/

Post A Comment

---

Comment

Name

your name

Location

ie London, UK

Submit

Check box to submit

Adam Coxon
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson

Dixie Ernill
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart

Malcolm Carter
Marie Hazelwood
Mark Rowland
Nick Dent-Robinson
Nicky Crewe
Nige Nudds
Philamonjaro
Richard Lewis
Shirley Procter
Spencer Robertshaw
Steev Burgess
Steve Kinrade

Steve Miles
Tommy Gunnarsson
Zena Grieg