Rob Ellis is best known by proxy, for his collaborations. He's worked with PJ Harvey since her first album, Dry, and co-produced Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea. His own outfit Spleen released two splendidly sprawling albums for the Swarfinger label and he has played percussion for much acclaimed uneasy-pop auteurs, Laika. Music For The Home demonstrates another, previously hidden side to his talent.
Subtitled "Instrumental, Mechanical & Electronic Music 1994-1999", Music For The Home is the result of many years of personal fascination with contemporary classical music, jazz and electronica. Ellis is a self-taught pianist, and the album started life as a piano solo album, gradually evolving into something more orchestrated, taking in music boxes and other wind-up instruments, as well as cello and classical guitar. The album has more in common with the work of composers like Messaien, Reich and Steve Martland than it does with any of Ellis' previous work. Music For The Home is not 'played' as such, rather it comprises a suite of music pieced together from fragments and layers of recordings made over several years. Ellis' composing and arranging, though unconventional here, provide a flow and rhythm that gives the album cohesive force.
The album has finally found a surprisingly natural home at The Leaf Label. In many ways, these recordings are not actually that far removed from other Leaf releases - a blend of the organic and synthetic, live instrumentation mediated by digital trickery. Two movements from 'Symphonies of wind-up instruments' appeared on Invisible Soundtracks: Macro 3 CD.
Scott Walker has already used a loop taken from 'Arctic Crossing' as the backing track on his contribution to Ute Lemper's recent album. Brian Eno has also given Music For The Home a personal endorsement.
listen/buy/via
or GET 2 TRACKS from this compilation of electronica artists from the Leaf label.
Scroll down to 2nd Lp in forum for link.
no clip available but dig the unspoken vibe happening between he and PJ in this live clip. There is just nothing like that feeling when she briefly grins post showing what happens when people really know each other, musically.
9/29/10
Music For The Home
Rob Ellis is best known by proxy, for his collaborations. He's worked with PJ Harvey since her first album, Dry, and co-produced Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea. His own outfit Spleen released two splendidly sprawling albums for the Swarfinger label and he has played percussion for much acclaimed uneasy-pop auteurs, Laika. Music For The Home demonstrates another, previously hidden side to his talent.
Subtitled "Instrumental, Mechanical & Electronic Music 1994-1999", Music For The Home is the result of many years of personal fascination with contemporary classical music, jazz and electronica. Ellis is a self-taught pianist, and the album started life as a piano solo album, gradually evolving into something more orchestrated, taking in music boxes and other wind-up instruments, as well as cello and classical guitar. The album has more in common with the work of composers like Messaien, Reich and Steve Martland than it does with any of Ellis' previous work. Music For The Home is not 'played' as such, rather it comprises a suite of music pieced together from fragments and layers of recordings made over several years. Ellis' composing and arranging, though unconventional here, provide a flow and rhythm that gives the album cohesive force.
The album has finally found a surprisingly natural home at The Leaf Label. In many ways, these recordings are not actually that far removed from other Leaf releases - a blend of the organic and synthetic, live instrumentation mediated by digital trickery. Two movements from 'Symphonies of wind-up instruments' appeared on Invisible Soundtracks: Macro 3 CD.
Scott Walker has already used a loop taken from 'Arctic Crossing' as the backing track on his contribution to Ute Lemper's recent album. Brian Eno has also given Music For The Home a personal endorsement.
listen/buy/via
or GET 2 TRACKS from this compilation of electronica artists from the Leaf label.
Scroll down to 2nd Lp in forum for link.
no clip available but dig the unspoken vibe happening between he and PJ in this live clip. There is just nothing like that feeling when she briefly grins post showing what happens when people really know each other, musically.
