Browsing Tag

Neo-Classical

Chamber strings go pop in Philadelphia String Quartet’s latest score, Oh My God

Posted on 6 October 2023

Living by their motto, ‘Think Outside the Bach’s’, the classically trained artists of which the Philadelphia String Quartet comprises know no bounds when scoring their pieces and comply to even fewer.

Their recently released piece, Oh My God, is a baroque folk fantasyscape, which wouldn’t be out of place in the prelude in a progressive folk metal track, in the OST of lore lore-filled series akin to The Witcher, or any other setting that calls for the romanticism of chamber strings pulling together in complete coalescent quintessence.

Since forming in 2009, the quartet has been immensely in demand as a wedding band; the performers even go as far as to curate custom playlists for couples. If Oh My God is anything to go by, the airwaves should be equally as inclined to champion the quartet’s quasi-classic spin on pop.

Stream Oh My God on Spotify, and follow the four-piece to ensure you’re the first to know when their live-recorded upcoming album drops!

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Michael Carson emulated the emotional connection of artistic expression with ‘Blades on Ice’

Posted on 20 September 2023

The classical music composer, Michael Carson takes inspiration from everything from the vastness of the universe to the majesty in the contortions of the human form; for one of his most captivatingly seminal scores, Blades on Ice, he took his fans on an audio-visual journey inspired by the grace of Olympian figure skaters.

To the accompaniment of his orchestral arrangement, the artistry and expression of the figure skaters are heightened to the nth degree. By soundtracking their defiance of physics, Carson amplified the tension within the dramatic routines, added to the melancholy of their sombre performances, and made melodic their spirited sequences. While some soundscapes cradle what it means to be human, others demonstrate the definition of extraordinary, Blades on Ice superlatively lies in the latter camp.

The official music video for Blades on Ice is available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Gary Albert orchestrated an ambient neo-classic respite from discomposure in his piano score, Skies

Posted on 12 September 2023

With melodies moulded into the mellifluous form of drifting clouds and ascending motifs which explore the cosmological atmosphere above, the latest ambient score, Skies, from the composer Gary Albert, is an invitation to lose yourself in the transformative power of music, nature, and art.

The neo-classical piano score was crafted to provide respite from the tumultuous fray of our deeply unsettled world, which can all too easily disquiet the psyche; paired with the mesmerism in the official music video, Skies is a musical and visual journey equipped to mainline the antidote to discomposure.

Instead of using Skies as a testament to his multi-award-winning and critically acclaimed talent, Skies served the far more utilitarian purpose of projecting tranquillity into the soundwaves via pulsating reprises, cathartically cascading melodies, and minimalist movement for fans of ambient soundscapes. Rest assured that you will tune into the same accessibility as offered by Nils Frahm and Hani Rani when you delve into this reflectively accordant piece.

The official music video for Skies premiered on September 4th; stream it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Michael Carson emanated ephemeral grace in his classical score, The Elusive Ballerina

Posted on 21 August 2023
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For his latest orchestral score and music video, the fan-revered and critically acclaimed composer Michael Carson captured the ephemeral grace of The Elusive Ballerina.

The evocative beauty of the masterpiece wouldn’t leave the score out of place in a performance of Swan Lake. With the pirouetting orchestral melodies which ebb and flow in mellifluous rhythm, your rhythmic pulses will be efficaciously awoken to the tune of Carson’s contemporary classical narrative that will capture your attention and flood catharsis into your senses.

On the basis of The Elusive Ballerina, and all of the pieces that have preceded it, it is only a matter of time before Carson’s name is one of the biggest in the classical realm.

Stream the music video for The Elusive Ballerina which premiered on August 12th via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Michael Carson sang the sun’s sonnet in his orchestral score, Solaris

Posted on 11 August 2023

The revered classical composer Michael Carson frequently looks to interstellar phenomena for inspiration for his compositions. His seminal score, Solaris, which would be more than fitting as a sonic pairing to a Brian Cox documentary, is no exception.

After day breaks via the orchestral melodies in the intro, sinister sci-fi elements start to weave their way into the grandeur of the piece to allude to the insurmountable nature of the sun, which is often forgotten about as we see it synonymous with temperateness.

His score efficaciously captures the explosively ravening nature of the hot ball of hydrogen before the orchestral strings bring you back to earth by sonically visualising the beauty of a sunset. Solaris may leave you feeling small once you contemplate the vast nature of the universe, but that is far from the only emotion evoked by his masterful maestro touch.

Stream the official music video for Solaris on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The formidable queen of orchestral indie, Tabitha Booth, set a baroque score in her single, Silent Lucidity

Posted on 17 April 2023

Coming to you live from Cocoon Studios, Tabitha Booth set a baroque score in her evocatively artful cover of Queensrÿche’s hit 90s song, Silent Lucidity. The chamber strings carve through the indie artist’s neo-classic class, which effortlessly resonates through her Tori Amos-ESQUE vocal lines and the tension-fraught arrangements that stands as a testament to her ability to weave an intricate and picturesque narrative.

Amanda Palmer may be the ‘Girl Anachronism’, but Tabitha Booth established herself as the formidable queen of orchestral indie after unveiling the disquiet alchemy in Silent Lucidity. We are stoked to see her back on the airwaves after the reprieve that followed her 2020 single, Curiosity. Here’s to hoping that there’s plenty more poignantly pensive alchemy lingering in the pipeline.

The live recording of Silent Lucidity is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Discover your new metaphysical playlist staple with Basil Babychan’s ambient composition. Phantasm

Posted on 29 October 2021

Hans Zimmer fans will want to delve into the latest composition by Indo-Dutch artist Basil Babychan which extends his mission to create music from the soul for the soul; the concept behind the neo-classic ambient composition, Phantasm, is a lesson in philosophy. In his own words;

“Coping mechanisms are often subject to debate and scrutiny. They improve mental and emotional well-being by addressing anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns, derived from painful real-life events. In many cases, one makes conscious or unconscious choices that enhances control over behaviour or gives psychological comfort by creating an alternate reality. Fantasy and Reality often overlap. We need Fantasy to survive our Reality.”

Phantasm unravels as the perfect soundscape to embrace our true reality, in all of its infinite metaphysical possibility and beauty. In the prelude, the intricate keys start tentatively ascending, as more layers amass in the meditatively textured single; Phantasm becomes a transcendental experience that reminds you, we’re all just energy constrained by our vision of a 4D reality.

Phantasm is due for official release on October 29th; you can check it out for yourselves via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Revel in the petrichor with Lian Kyla’s standout piano composition, After Rain

Posted on 24 September 2021
Lian Kyla

Revel in the petrichor with After Rain, the standout single from producer and composer Lian Kyla’s debut EP, Dream Maker. Each soundscape is an expression of creativity and emotion from the Philippines-based singer-songwriter, producer and author whose work resounds as much on the airwaves as it does onscreen.

The captivating progressions blossom in the tranquil release that introduces you to the artist’s unique neo-classical flair which she carves out through minimalist minor-key notes and delicate orchestral swells. The score brings you closer to nature without you ever having to leave your living room. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, it has the feel of a modern masterpiece.

Dream Maker is now available to stream in full via SoundCloud. Connect with the artist via Facebook & Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chiptune meets classical in Mr. Tyler Larson’s Flight of the Bumble Bee (Arcade Version)

Posted on 16 July 2021

Rimsky-Korsakov’s original score, Flight of the Bumble Bee, was imagined for a full symphonic orchestra; Mr. Tyler Larson inventively reimagined it through arcade sounds and vintage synths.

In this unexpected collision of chiptune and classical, the flurrying notes swathe you in 80s nostalgia while the dizzying pace of the intermittent bleeps leaves you utterly arrested. I have heard Flight of the Bumble Bee covered many times before, but this theatrically digital rendition is easily one of the most inventive.

Flight of the Bumble Bee (Arcade Version) released on July 1st. You can check it out for yourselves via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Nizar Bredan starts a ‘Journey’ with his latest neo-classic composition.

Posted on 21 June 2021

Libya-born, Brussels-based self-taught neoclassical composer and pianist Nizar Breden has released his latest composition, Journey; through the gentle melodic crescendos, Bredan’s diverse cultural heritage emerges through the delicate score that is provoking and profound in equal measure.

By switching between dramatic, uplifting and tentative cadences, Journey is a score that will leave you hooked by its multifaceted nature, expressive textures, and Bredan’s ability to melodically flit between melancholy and an almost Machiavellian style of playfulness.

After finding influence in the wandering tones of Chopin, the circulating melodies of Tiersen and the evocative works Ólafur Arnalds, Ludovico Einaudi and Nils Frahm, Bredan discernibly found his signature style that will easily enamour any fans of the aforementioned.

Journey is the first of the singles to come from his new series of original compositions; the rest are due to follow throughout 2021 and 2022.

Journey is now available to stream via Spotify.