Orbits
Orbits is an electronic instrumental suite in seven movements on the London-based contemporary classical label Bigo & Twigetti.
The album Twynholm’s recent textural experiments further by incorporating slowly shifting tape loops and a palette of piano and electronics. Orbits filters the work of the original 70s ambient innovators through a contemporary lens to create a fresh and unique listening experience for todays audience. Melodies are present but largely give way to organic layers of sound both warm and warped. Fans of the late Ryuichi Sakamoto or ambient artists like William Basinski will find a lot to like about this beautiful record which sits at the melodic edge of the ambient spectrum.
Orbits was originally a commissioned as the soundtrack to a film installation at The Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh by Birds of Paradise Theatre Company. The film, inspired by the James Webb Space Telescope, is a mediative work shot in Lisbon by Hugo Glendinning, directed by Rachel Drazek and featuring Portuguese dancer Diana Niepce. It is an exploration of relationality – of who and what we are in orbit with.
TEKSTURA
Tekstura is a series of instrumental piano compositions coloured with subtle textures. With the aim of combining melody and sonic texture deriving solely from the piano, the project started life as an investigation into sustaining tones using electronic bows on the piano strings. From these early experiments it expanded organically to incorporate a wider musical palette including the violin of former Placebo member and compoer Fiona Brice and cello of Alice Allen of award winning Gaia Duo.
Three singles The Noise He Kept So Quiet, Ostranenie and Prelude in E minor were digitally released in 2020.
Another three followed in summer 2021: Piano Lumineuse, Odessa 4am and Schumann’s Resonance.
The album,Tekstura, is now out through London based label Blurred Recordings.
Running like a soundtrack to an imaginary film, Tekstura takes inspiration from the piano itself, the urban environment and early cinema.
WALTZER
Waltzer takes took inspiration from three greats: Brahms, Morricone and Shostakovich.
The four instrumental tracks are the result of returning to the study of classical and romantic piano repertoire combined with an enduring love of film music. The EP plays with the idea of how composers of the pre-electronic age might have made use of an electronics section of the orchestra, not how those composers would write now, or how they would make use of modern technology, but rather how they would make use of the distinct electronic sound quality.
Many thanks to the brilliant musicians who played on the project:
Bass Guitar - Biggi Hilmars; Cello - Laura Durrant; Double Bass - Neil Cameron; Drums, pots and pans - Stuart Brown; Piano, guitars, organ, melodica, tuned percussion - Scott Twynholm; Violin - James Devlin; Vocals - Joanna Finnigan.
Design by Valerie Reid at Five Storey.
Photograph by Ronnie Black.
METROVAVAN
Metrovavan, Scott’s first solo project, combined Americana songwriting with hip-hop and electro beats. In 2000 The Lost Notes was released as a 7" single on the Liquefaction Empire label. It was warmly received picking up single of the month in Record Collector Magazine and airplay on Radio 1. The album Retrofitting followed in 2001and was subsequently released through Darla Records in the US on CD and Vinyl. Although primarily a studio project Metrovavan played live shows in the UK and US.