Shadow Orchestra – Remaker EP

Cat: SHADOWCD2

1. Time and Distance   [Listen]
2. Matilda   [Listen]
3. Pushing to Sea  [Listen]
4. Sweet as a Nut – Strongroom Mix   [Listen]
5. Matilda Reprise   [Listen]

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Formed in 2006 by producer and cellist Chris Bangs, Remaker is the follow up to Shadow Orchestra’s eponymous debut album. True to its name the EP showcase’s Chris’s sound re-developed, re-interpreted, remade, through working with a fully formed band comprising of himself on cello, Kat Arney on harp, Dave Oliver on drums, Nick Siddall on guitar and Mary Erskine on Vocals and Keys. Together they blend disparate musical elements into a blistering pop aesthetic.

Shadow Orchestra – Shadow Orchestra

Cat: SHADOWCD1

1. Sweet as a Nut   [Listen]
2. Mentalist Mandolinist   [Listen]
3. Plucking and Bowing   [Listen]
4. Creaking and Bowing   [Listen]
5. Spring 2005   [Listen]
6. Feedback No. 2   [Listen]
7. Rain Music feat. Amy Duncan   [Listen]
8. The BiggestAnimal Of Them All   [Listen]
9. Dark and Sweet   [Listen]
10. Theme From Backpacker Orpheus   [Listen]

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Shadow Orchestra debut album first release in 2005. This beguling collection of tracks, (which gave birth to the band as we now know now it), started out as a studio only project for producer Chris Bangs and features oringinal versions of live favourites, ‘Plucking and Bowing‘,  ‘Creaking and Bowing‘ and behemoth post rock athem ‘Sweet as a Nut‘.

The album is a glorious mish-mash of found sounds, haunting melodies, crazed rhythms, and tricks and surprises, exploring the joyous possibilities of melody, rhythm and texture. Album highlights include a gorgeous collaboration with new Scottish singer-songwriter and double bassist, Amy Duncan on Rain Music, the theme to Backpacker Orpheus, a play about the Asian Tsunami which premiered in London’s West End, composed using recordings taken from a Javanese Gamelan and a celebration of the lost art of whistling on Spring 2005.

Various – Self Songs

Cat: SELFSONGCD01

1. Kali
2. Patience
3. Jamie
4. Motolani
5. Alex
6. BJ
7. Francia
8. Christopher
9. Lee
10. Michael
11. Flavia
12. Shantee
13. Tulin
14. Rachel

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Self Songs is a ground-breaking collaboration between Pendragon School, a South East London special needs school, and Shadow Orchestra producer, Chris Bangs.

The fourteen tracks take their names from the children who not only wrote the lyrics but also took a hands on approach to their song’s creative direction, working side by side with producer Chris Bangs, creating a sensitive soundtrack that complements each subject’s story.

The children all have learning and behaviour needs and the results are impressive, poignant, fascinating, eye-opening and sometimes even funny. They offer a compelling insight into their subject’s world, some of whom have already suffered significant emotional trauma.