Acoustica: Alarm Will Sound Performs Aphex Twin

by Alarm Will Sound

Overview

Blurring the boundaries between classical and popular music may not be much of a new idea anymore, but there are still artists who can make it sound fresh and exciting. Alarm Will Sound is one of them, and the ensemble's latest project represents a significant jump in ambition from its musically impressive but conceptually safe all-Reich debut. For Acoustica the group chose 13 compositions by the well-respected electronica artist Aphex Twin (aka Richard James) and re-created them as closely as possible using only acoustic and electric (as opposed to electronic) instruments -- violins, clarinets, celesta, oboe, trombone, electric guitar, etc. (Two compositions are featured twice, once in live performance and once in remixed versions by Berlin-based producer Dennis DeSantis.) While the arrangers' ability to re-create all of the melodic elements of James' complex compositions is impressive enough, even more so is the ability of the various drummers to replicate his speed-of-light breakbeats in a live setting. Most of the time, when you put popular music into a classical setting you just end up exposing the fact that beyond the bluster, there isn't much there there (remember the symphonic Metallica experiment?). With the music of Aphex Twin, just the opposite occurs -- you hear more clearly how much is going on in his strange and wonderful pieces, and it makes you want to go back to the original versions and listen to them again with new ears. Very highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson

Product Details

Release Date:	07/12/2005
Label:	CANTALOUPE
UPC:	0713746302825

Tracks

1. Cock/Ver 10
2. Logon Rock Witch
3. Meltphace 6
4. Blue Calx
5. Fingerbib
6. Gwely Mernans
7. 4
8. Prep Gwarlek 3b
9. Omgyjya Switch 7
10. Cliffs
11. Jynweythek Ylow
12. Mt. Saint Michel
13. Avril 14th
14. Prep Gwarlek 3b [Remix]
15. Cliffs [Remix]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Alarm Will Sound   Primary Artist,Ensemble
Payton MacDonald   Percussion,Drums (Steel)
Caleb Burhans   Piano,Viola,Violin,Voices
Martha Cluver   Voices,Tamboura
Alan Pierson   Celeste,Conductor
James Hirschfeld   Trombone
Jessica Johnson   Flute,Piccolo,Flute (Alto)
Jason Price   Trumpet,Bird Calls
Evan Hause   Guitar (Electric),Percussion
Stefan Freund   Cello
Michael Harley   Bassoon
Jason Treuting   Drums,Percussion

Technical Credits

Payton MacDonald   Arranger,Group Member
Ken Thomson   Arranger
John Orfe   Arranger
Jessica Johnson   Arranger,Arranger,Group Member
Evan Hause   Arranger,Group Member
Stefan Freund   Arranger,Group Member
Dennis DeSantis   Arranger,Composer,Remixing,Group Member,Remix Producer
Caleb Burhans   Arranger,Group Member
Jonathan Newman   Arranger
John Pickford Richards   Arranger
Courtney Orlando   Arranger
Grace Row   Editing
Charles Harbutt   Mixing,Engineer
Martha Cluver   Group Member
Alan Pierson   Group Member
Caleb Shreve   Mixing
James Hirschfeld   Group Member
Kenny Savelson   Executive Producer
Woody Pornpitaksuk   Mastering
David Lang   Executive Producer
Michael Harley   Group Member
Tim Olmstead   Assistant Engineer
Julia Wolfe   Executive Producer
Jason Treuting   Group Member
Jason Price   Group Member