Anthem

Ingamells, Andy; Rosina, Daniele; Apartment House; Birmingham Symphony Orchestra; Phillips, Jamie; Thallein Ensemble; Abdy, Emily; Charette, Gregory; Nieuw Ensemble; Mwamba, Corey

anthem brings together new live recordings from five creative composers who make striking and unconventional music. Each track on this diverse compilation deals with the liveness of music: that powerful experience of witnessing musicians on stage, in person, in the present. The title track from Emily Abdy presents a quietly vulnerable sound world that is equal parts haunting and powerful, drawing influence from the unlikely combination of classical violin training and local open mic nights. Following this intense opener, composer-performer Andy Ingamells joins forces with veteran experimental ensemble Apartment House to channel standup comedians in a light-hearted performance that drags audience members up on stage to manipulate the hands of the musicians as they play. Ryan Latimer’s work has been described as “anarchic and cartoonishly fun” (BBC Radio 3), and “irresistible in its tongue-in-cheek irreverence” (International Society for Contemporary Music). His Gorilla and Orange Sun is inspired by the gently surreal stories of author and illustrator Anthony Browne, who depicts gorillas strolling the streets in cardigans and raincoats, and the sun as a giant floating orange. Genevieve Murphy frequently bases her interdisciplinary performances around psychology and disability. Her epic 5-movement piece F.I.N.E is inspired by perseverance, parody and connection. The final track is from Corey Mwamba, a musician who publicly retired from live performance in March 2019 as a protest against experiences of racism and objectification in the British jazz+ scenes. Since then he has maintained an output of compelling new recordings of music using vibraphone, dulcimer, electronics and small instruments. He is the current presenter of Freeness, a weekly show on BBC Radio 3 that plays adventurous jazz and improvised music from across the globe.

Price: $29.98