Sub by Jack Sheen - SN Variations [SN11CD] FLAC download included with physical items

Sub

Jack Sheen

A 11 track avant-garde album (47m 22s) — released April 29th 2022 on SN Variations

#classical #avant-garde

SN Variations are proud to present Sub, the debut album by composer-conductor Jack Sheen.

Composed for a lop-sided ensemble of five alto flutes, two bass clarinets, two trombones, piano, percussion, four violas, and a backing track of white noise and field recordings, this radical orchestral reimagining shuns traditional ensemble formats in favour of mid-range saturation. The results are like no other: rich, uncanny, and somewhat absurd.

Sub began life in March 2020 as an installation, created with no specific space or realisation in mind. Once this instrumentation was stumbled upon and pinned down, its bizarre potential catalysed music that took shape as a work in 11 movements, each one a self-contained eco-system teeming with life, with sections of the ensemble split in autonomous entities that tussle and circle around one another.

At times, Sub presents panels of hyperactive texture. At others, sound and time are stretched to near breaking- point. We are pulled along a tightrope whose length is unknown, or submerged in dense, thick matter, bathing in the crunch, hiss, and distant roar of the audio backdrop.

Sub's primary mode is one of saturation and pressure, crowds and pile-ons, unclarity and illegibility; fluid, organic messiness contained in tight, ruthless moulds.

Whilst nodding its head to minimalism and ambient music on a formal level, Sub engages with energy. The cyclic reoccurrence at the heart of each movement create sculptural impressions, yet the music buzzes with motors running independent of one another at irregular paces.

This album is Sheen's first collaboration with Octandre Ensemble and conductor Jon Hargreaves, and was recorded over two days in July 2021 by Simon Reynell in Menuhin Hall. It was mixed by Reynell and Sheen, and mastered by Stephan Matthieu. Artwork and design are by Sheen and Will Boyd of sferic. Liner notes are by Ed Atkins.

There will be an album launch at Cafe Oto on May 1st featuring Aisha Orazzbayeva,Tim Etchells, TIBSLC(Sferic) and Jack Sheen and Adrian Corker DJing.
  • Kudos happily ship all items worldwide.
  • Shipping costs and delivery times are available here.
  • UK items are sent tracked as standard at no extra cost.
  • We aim to dispatch orders placed before 2pm on the same day.
  • We are unable to ship orders on weekends or Bank Holidays.
  • If you purchase a pre-order item amongst an order of in-stock releases, we will typically hold your order until all items are in ready to send.
  • Although we use all reasonable means to ensure that your order is delivered within a specified time, we cannot accept any responsibility for late deliveries due to circumstances outside of our control. We will do our best to inform you of any unexpected delay.