John Metcalfe’s third album ‘A Darker Sunset’ epitomizes music currently dissolving boundaries between electronic and modern classical styles. With influences from Bach to Eno via Schoenberg and Kraftwerk, Metcalfe's sound world is seductive, haunting and fiercely intense. Pieces range in scope from electric intimacy and lush cinematica to searing orchestral drum’n’bass and include exceptional performances from some of the finest musicians in the country. The music is scrupulously composed so that structural cohesion beguiles the listener whilst absorbing detail reveals itself on repeated listening.
'This third album from New Zealand-born British composer and former Durutti Column and Duke Quartet member, is a woozy wedding of classical, electronica and ambient. String arranger by rock royalty appointment (Morrissey, The Pretenders, Blur) Metcalfe released his first album in 2004 and the fact this album is released by The Big Chill gives a good indication of where its heart lies. It's a gloriously schizophrenic collection, one minute lazily teasing out notes amid floaty atmospherics (opener Echo Valley), then jack-knifing into a 60's spy thriller set piece, heavy on brass and scratching (A Whole Day Nearer, Undertow). We're seven tracks in, at Nothing More True, before vocals arrive, and even then it's as a looped breathy syllable refracting back on itself. We don't get actual lyrics until an A&R-worrying ten tracks in, on You Call My Name, whose skittering beat mirror downbeat drum'n'bass'n'chillout duo Lamb. A wonderful wrong-footing of a music business built on the selling of vocalists as personalities'.
The Word
It seems that every man and his dog wants to be a film composer nowadays. Very few actually know what it takes, let alone have the understanding, poise and ability to create that kind of emotive resonant sound. String specialist and ex-Durutti Cloumn member John Metcalfe however is one such musician.
DJ Magazine
The album features;
John Metcalfe; viola, piano, guitar
The Duke Quartet
Collaborations include Durutti Column, Blur, The Pretenders, George Michael.
Andy Gangadeen; drums
The Bays
Collaborations include Spice Girls, Massive Attack, Imagined Village.
Louisa Fuller; violin
The Duke Quartet.
Collaborations include Jessye Norman, Lloyd Cole, The Pretenders, Elvis Costello.
Simon Richmond; keyboards, sonic science
The Bays, Palmskin Productions
Collaborations include Neneh Cherry, Freerange records.
Ali Friend; bass
Red Snapper, Clayhill
Collaborations include Beth Orton, Afro Celt Sound System.
Attab Haddad; Oud
Attab Haddad Quintet
Collaborations include James Newton Howard, Paul Gladstone-Reid.
Chris Worsey; Cello
Collaborations include Divine Comedy, Badly Drawn Boy.
Richard Henry; Trombone
Collaborations include Jazz Warriors, George Russell, Hermeto Pascoal.
Robin Blaze; Counter-tenor
Britain’s leading counter-tenor. Solo recitals and opera roles worldwide.
Ruth-Ann Boyle; Vocals
Solo Artist
Collaborations include Olive, Enigma.
Album released in July 2008 on The Big Chill Recordings including a remixes by Nitin Sawhney and Palm Skin Productions
‘A Darker Sunset’ live is an intense experience. Equally at home in the South Bank Centre or on festival stages the band’s musicianship and technical skill stuns audiences with its passion and visceral focus. ‘A Darker Sunset’ has already been heard by thousands of people through touring and performances at festivals such as Big Chill and Bestival. More often than not a set from the group provokes descriptions of ‘absolutely jaw-dropping’, ‘brilliant’ and ‘awesome’ on website forums. The press too. Of a recent show at London’s ICA John L. Walters of The Guardian stated, ‘ "The event starts brilliantly with viola player/composer John Metcalfe. They play a smartly written, sharply defined repertoire (as demonstrated by Metcalfe's album Scorching Bay), but Gangadeen's supercharged style reveals an extra dimension in Metcalfe's material; the drums sit right on top of the beat, synchronising precisely with the urgent attack of the strings."
Onstage everyone features. Generally audiences are accustomed to a focal personality - a conductor, soloist or singer. With ‘A Darker Sunset’ the whole band are core to the music. The musicians stand in a semi-circle so all are easily visible. This is crucial for the drums and bass which so often sit behind the singer or lead instrument. Strings in electronic music are usually relegated to the back row but here the audience get nothing but immediate vivid playing.
In addition the range of performers in the group appeals to a wide spectrum of listener and venue through combining musically adventurous players with diverse musical backgrounds. Gangadeen’s awesome drumming style, Friend’s deeply felt bass lines, blistering strings from Fuller and Metcalfe and sublime electronics from Richmond results in a unique synthesis of the best elements of classical, dance and electronic genres.
AUTUMN SHOWS
September 24th 2008 Launch of album at the 100 club London.
1st October 08 Curating and performing in three concerts to help launch King’s Place, London, a brand new state of the art concert venue in King’s Cross. Performers include the Duke Quartet, Max Richter and the John Metcalfe band.
October 08-future Close involvement with King’s Place organising projects and festivals.
October-November Support on Bays/Heritage Orchestra Tour promoted by Music Beyond The Mainstream. Venues include Gateshead Sage, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and London’s Royal Festival Hall. Also one of the two composers involved in the main event.
