MANU DELAG0
ENSEMBLE
SATURDAY 28.09.19 / 20:30
BIO:
The highly accomplished Austrian composer, ensemble leader and musician, Manu Delago has established himself as an innovator throughout his impressive body of work across the last decade. Collaborating with Bjork, Cinematic Orchestra, Anushka Shankar and Olafur Arnalds, releasing four genre pushing studio records on Tru Thoughts and One Little Indian, Manu has become known worldwide as a figurehead of the ‘handpan’. His own various manifestations have seen him perform prestigious events across the globe and extensively through the UK, including last years solo performance at the Royal Albert Hall, opening for Arnalds. Manu has appeared as a guest on BBC6 Music, Worldwide FM and recorded a live session at Maida Vale Studios for BBC Radio 2.
Manu returns with a brand-new album and his biggest live show to date.Circadian (out 13th September via One LittleIndian Records) takes the listener through the cycle of sleep stages, emulating REM,light sleep, deep sleep and an abrupt awakening. Delago was inspired by the concept of individual circadian rhythms, due in part to his own lack of sleep as an international touring musician: “Before I made this album I had a phase of very intense touring with multiple trips to five different continents, without a break for several months“said Delago,explaining the nocturnal theme of the record.“It literally felt like touring with four bands simultaneously and in my dreams the music and crews started to commingle. I found it interesting how my brain was trying to digest all these experiences during sleep hours. In fact, during REM sleep the brain is very creative. In that stressful touring period, I started to consciously appreciate sleep and how much it contributes to mastering any challenge.”Manu Delago's previous release, the multi-award winning film Parasol Peak,was written to be performed and recorded on a mountain under extreme circumstances but the music was never played live in front of an audience. Delago states the whole expedition as a big lesson in team spirit and ensemble playing. For Circadian Delago put together a 9-piece-ensemble with some of his favourite musicians to make the album and live-show a unique sonic journey.
A departure from the Austrian musician’s revered electronic-leaning work in Silver Kobalt and Metromonk, Delago incorporated percussive instruments found on those worldwide tours–from places such as Vietnam, Russia, Turkey and Indonesia–with an aim to create an electronic-inspired album in an acoustic form. “I wanted to incorporate elements of the electronic music that influences me; I used clarinets and accordion like warm analog synthesizers, and added strings and trombone to give it an orchestral but yet very intimate character“ he explains.
Manu first performed in Stroud headlining the Good On Paper stage at the Stroud Fringe Festival in 2017 and this time he returns with his 9 piece ensemble featuring Georg Gratzer (woodwinds), Pepe Auer (woodwinds), Alois Eberl (trombone and accordion), Bernie Mallinger (violin), Jenny Ames (viola), Clemens Rofner (bass), Charly Mair (percussion) and Chris Norz (percussion) performing music from across his career as well as brand new material…