Joe Acheson’s Hidden Orchestra Project Releases the Song, “Skylarks”
After a recent period spent focusing on sound art installations, collaborations, and video game scoring, Joe Acheson’s Hidden Orchestra project returns with the second single taken from new album ‘To Dream Is To Forget’ set for release later this year.
From quiet beginnings ‘Skylarks’ grows impressively in stature, riding intriguing musical currents to its dramatic crescendo ending.
A highly conceptual piece, the track and title are in part inspired by a Prix Marulic winning radio documentary Acheson previously worked on about three different people's experiences of being in the sky - ‘Skylarking’, by Cathy Fitzgerald.
Delving deeper there are multiple points of interest and stories within the rich sonics in this arrangement. An analog modular synth is employed to mimic the sound of a hang-glider's altimeter, which beeps quicker and higher the further up it goes. Low swooping noises and sub bass notes originate from manipulated recordings of skylarks, while an ingenious stroke of sound design sees slowed-down recordings of a bee become a mechanical whirring sound, the original recording for which was taken in a field of skylarks on Inishbofin island (featured on the cover of the album).
The producer conjures intricate yet expansive worlds of sound, often in collaboration with a select core of talented musicians, combined with Acheson’s bespoke samples, field recordings, and carefully honed composition and arrangement sensibilities. Detail and craftsmanship are at the core of everything he does, even musically directing a diverse array of instrumentalists to capture unique samples of both improvised and scored nature. This ingenious approach really sets his work apart from the crowd and allows Acheson’s artistic vision to truly come to life exactly as intended.
Now releasing via his newly formed Lone Figures imprint, the musical direction for the record involved a concerted effort to condense musical themes and ideas into more immediate arrangements than previously released material.
This approach is further exemplified with the inclusion of a reduced-size single edit which clocks in at around half the original version’s eight minute length.
After multiple albums with respected independent label Tru Thoughts, continued support from the likes of The Guardian, BBC6Music, FIP, JazzFM, KCRW, and consistent global touring of an energetic and intriguing live show, Hidden Orchestra’s reach and influence has swollen to make it one of the highest regarded names in independent music today. ‘To Dream Is To Forget’ will be released in September, with Hidden Orchestra set for a European live tour shortly after.
Listen to “Skylarks” on: Bandcamp