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Product Description
Synopsis: An academic and experimental neo-classical sound that awakens the dark sensibility of the composer! Recognized by Thom Yorke, who selected him as the opening act for his solo tour, and praised by renowned artists such as Radiohead, Actress, Laurel Halo, Jonny Greenwood, Mila Calix, and Mica Levi, Oliver Coates, a rising modern classical cellist, composer, and producer from the Royal Academy of Music and the London Contemporary Orchestra, has completed his new album "skins n slime," his first since his 2018 masterpiece "Shelley's on Zenn-La." Released in the US once again by RVNG Intl. in NY. CD release is Japan only. Completed in December 2019 in Glasgow, Scotland, where he is currently based, this album draws inspiration from the musical numerology of German conceptual artist Hanne Dalbofen and the compositions of the unknown Dutch musician Enno Velthuys, delivering an energetic performance through dense, synthetically modulated strings. Embracing both suffering and joy for this weighty new sound, he incorporated his own method of creating cello "slime" throughout the album's live performances. This rich fusion of layers seeps through a chain of two digital loopers, distortion, and chorus that modulate the cello's tone. The suite "Caregiver" parts 1-5 is a purge of invisible sacrifice and spiritual encounter experienced through deep harmonic dissonance. Parts 2 (4am) and 5 (Money) of "Caregiver" are sprinkled with intensely distorted sounds in a painful, breathless crescendo torrent. It's as if the album expresses the emotional ups and downs of Coates himself. The rainbow contrast of light and darkness in this work is constructed with the soft sound of pure cello accompanying the collapsing drones, and the tragic strokes of "Philomela Mutation," which was also featured on the soundtrack of Marianna Simnett's short film "The Bird Game," lead into the clear string solo of "Butoh baby" and the ferocious sound of "Reunification 2018." These three songs were apparently written for a tour with Thom Yorke. Then, from the melodic murmurs of "Still Life" to the overwhelming sense of floating in "Honey," the final track, "Soaring X," features female artist Malibu, who also participated in the previous album, and her transparent voice accompanies the cello, bringing the album to a pleasant close in a sublime mood. Shelley's on Zenn-La, released in 2018 and highly acclaimed in various places, was a hybrid experimental sound that fused classical influences with electronic music, reflecting his love for IDM and electronica. If the previous work was considered "light," this new work seems to awaken the darker side of his sensibility as a composer. Unlike the previous work, the solemnity of the sound, constructed primarily around the cello and without a beat, is brilliant. The CD release is Japan only. The CD includes "Sidestepped," a track exceeding 30 minutes, as a bonus track. A portion of the proceeds from this work will be donated to support Down syndrome in Scotland. Media Reviews and More: Oliver Coates, a rising modern classical cellist, composer, and producer from the Royal Academy of Music and the London Contemporary Orchestra, has received praise from renowned artists such as Thom Yorke, who recognized his talent and selected him as the opening act for his solo tour. He has also contributed to works by Radiohead, Actress, Laurel Halo, and soundtracks by Jonny Greenwood, collaborated with Mila Calix, and released a co-production with Mica Levi. His new album, his first since 2018's masterpiece "Shelley's on Zenn-La," showcases his awakened dark sensibilities as a composer, resulting in an academic and experimental neo-classical sound! (C)RS
About the Artist: Currently based in Scotland after moving from London, Oliver Coates is a cellist who has worked with a variety of artists across classical, alternative, experimental, and electronic music genres, while also producing innovative solo works. He studied classical music at the Royal Academy of Music, achieving the highest grades in the university's history, and has performed with orchestras such as the Aurora Orchestra, London Contemporary Orchestra, and London Sinfonietta. Meanwhile, he also creates electronic music inspired by artists like Autechre. He collaborated with Mira Calix on Warp's "The Elephant in the Room: 3 Commissions" and also performed a cover of Boards of Canada with Mira on the "Warp20 (Recreated)" compilation. Other collaborations include those with electronic music veteran Laurie Spiegel and contemporary composer John Luther Adams. He also contributed to Nico Muhly's album "Seeing Is Believing," a post-classical artist gaining attention, and the soundtracks for Jonny Greenwood's "There Will Be Blood" and "The Master." In 2012, he released "Crystals Are Always Forming," an electro-acoustic collaboration with composer Leo Abrahams. In 2013, she released her debut solo album, "Towards the Blessed Islands." Her talent caught the eye of Thom Yorke, leading to her participation in Radiohead's album "A Moon Shaped Pool." She later collaborated with Mica Levi, who has been praised by Herbert and Demdike Stare. After releasing her second album, "Upstepping," in 2016, she signed with the cutting-edge New York label RVNG Intl. and released "Shelley's on Zenn-La," which received widespread acclaim. She was then selected as a support act for Thom Yorke and toured the world, and in 2020 she released a new album again through RVNG Intl.