Theta Six Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere

• 1 Forced Orbit 12:52
• 2 Monochrome 01:53
• 3 Fata Morgana 05:29
• 4 Trichromat 04:45
• 5 Black Paradox 03:41
• 6 Alien Spectra 04:36
• 7 Dagger Boys 05:39
• 8 African Lady Pilot 11:48
• 9 Spinshift 05:08
• 10 Marabaraba 10:47
• 11 Edgelands 03:08
• 12 Message Parlour - for Alan 05:27
• Total Runtime 01:15:13

Info for Theta Six

Theta Six - das sechste Album von OUA - ist ein sich ständig wandelnder Klangteppich, der über ein Wurmloch direkt aus dem Universum der progressiven Klänge kommt. Es entstand aus einer Studio-Session mit bassgetriebenen Rhythmen, auf die am nächsten Tag eine Marathon-Session mit freier Improvisation folgte. Diese Sessions wurden durch eine hochgradige Kollision, bei der ausgiebig von Zufallsverfahren Gebrauch gemacht wurde, miteinander verschmolzen und dann von Martin und Jan sorgfältig modelliert und für Bläser und Stimmen arrangiert.

Die Musik ist als eine einzige durchgehende Suite zu hören, wobei sich bestimmte Motive über die gesamte Dauer des Albums hinweg wiederholen. OUA nähert sich beim freien Improvisieren oft dem 'laminalen' AMM-Stil an, was im Kontrast zu den melodischen Soli steht, die über die Rhythmuslandschaften fliegen, bei denen nur Terrys kreative Basslinien den Ausgangspunkt bildeten. Das Ergebnis ist fließend, eine nahtlose Verschmelzung, bei der überraschende Klanglandschaften ihr Haupt über dem Lavastrom musikalischer Ideen erheben.

Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere

Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere
A UK-based group Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere were formed in 2010 by Martin ARCHER and Chris BYWATER, with touchstone inspirations being their love of Magma, Terry Riley, Alice Coltrane, Stockhausen and Sun Ra, and their desire to create a large scale music which would be improvisation based but would also feature arrangements for massed voices, strings and horns. A process which they have named "Improg". The duo spent 2 years working on "Theta One", for which session players were brought in as required, with a central role being played by the 30 voice avantgarde choir Juxtavoices. After the completion of this album, it was decided to continue the group permanently with a lineup of Martin ARCHER (keyboards, horns, electronics), Chris BYWATER (keyboards), Yvonna MAGDA (violin, electronics), Jan TODD (voice, strings, electronics), Terry TODD (bass), Steve DINSDALE (drums, keyboards) and Walt SHAW (percussion and electronics).

Chris left the group after "Theta Three", and for "Theta Five" new members Lorin HALSALL (double bass, electronics) and Andy PEAKE (keyboards) joined the group. After the completion of "Theta Three", the group ceased to perform live, principally for logistical reasons.

Across the span of 5 albums the group has stayed with the core idea to improvise with an emphasis on repetition rather than soloing. The group methodology is to improvise collectively in the studio, and then to carefully edit and arrange the improvisations into their final form by adding composed material. The group has gradually become more self-contained over the years, with Juxtavoices playing a smaller part and Jan's multi-tracked voices playing a larger part being the main change.

Writing about "Theta Five", Chris Cutler (ReR) said "It's a rock-rooted aesthetic, but with acres of space for improvisation, sonic exposition and studio manipulation. Assembled (a lot like Unrest-era Henry Cow) through a process of focused improvisation, extensive editing, customized composition, many overdubs and radical mixing - the results are persuasive and full of musical substance. These are mostly long-form pieces - to sink into and follow as they twist and turn. There is no shortage of ideas. Best approached, I think, like an immersive live concert, with an aesthetic somewhere between the mid 60s and the mid 70s, - only much better recorded. Give it a try. If not now, when? Reminds me rather of H Cow - I listened as to a gig, no idea where it was going. Great record, rare these days."

This album contains no booklet.