The second in the Archipelago Remixes EP series brings more stunning new versions of tracks from Hidden Orchestra’s second album, ‘Archipelago’. Established and rising stars - Dam Mantle, Mungo’s Hi Fi, Floex, submerse and KRTS – work their magic on producer and band-leader Joe Acheson’s original productions, across two 10” records in a hand-stamped and numbered sleeve, limited to 500 units worldwide.
The first Archipelago Remixes EP, which dropped in 2013, gained major props from the likes of Record Collector, Clash, The Line Of Best Fit, DJ Mag, Urb and more, quickly flying off the shelves; the Edinburgh based outfit have since continued to push forwards, with developments including a new live AV show which saw them sell out venues including London’s Scala. In anticipation of the next EP, Acheson has crafted the immersive ‘Archipelago Remixes Mixtape’, recently premiered by The 405, with Part 2 to follow soon. Testament to an incredible musical mind, his Hidden Orchestra studio mixes have had 100,000+ streams to date, gaining in adulation with each instalment.
Opening the first 10” is “Seven Hunters (Dam Mantle Mix)”, which brings a noir-ish intensity to the original, a firm fan favourite. The Glasgow based Notown/Wichita signed producer re-programmes the original drums, creating a sense of space and suspense, and eliciting admiration from Acheson, whose heavily layered organic beats are an integral part of the stirring Hidden Orchestra sound, even requiring two kits in the live show: “it's the kind of way I treat drum recordings in my own work, so it's really nice to hear it done to my drum tracks”.
“Flight (Mungo's Hi Fi Remix)” sees an eagerly awaited hook-up with the Scottish crew, of whom Acheson has long been a fan, having partied at - and played on - Mungos’ legendary soundsystem at Knockengorroch Festival. Here they transform the intricate, folk-influenced “Flight” (which boasts almost a million soundcloud plays) for a bass-heavy dub dancefloor, while skilfully retaining snapshots of the original orchestration and atmosphere.
“Disquiet (Floex Remix)” finds Floex returning the favour for a Hidden Orchestra mix of his own latest single. This charged, hypnotic version shows the dancier, more electronic side of the Czech clarinettist and producer’s work; twisting and heightening existing sounds, not least the heavenly harp solo, for an epic effect. Floex’s second official Hidden Orchestra remix, this adds to a growing list of joint ventures from these two like-minded creators.
Two artists from Berlin’s Project Mooncircle label - London based submerse, and Brooklyn’s KRTS (the latter with a bonus digital cut) – remix “Spoken”, each ramping up the strikingly percussive intro and spiralling down a different yet equally fascinating experimental electronic bass music path.
Following their well-received debut, ‘Night Walks’, Hidden Orchestra’s 2012 ‘Archipelago’ LP gained heavy press support, including Q, Clash, The Independent, BBC Music, The Scotsman and Wax Poetics. This mesmerising music also hooked daytime and specialist BBC 6Music tastemakers including Stuart Maconie, Lauren Laverne, Gilles Peterson and Cerys Matthews; plus BBC R1 Introducing, John Kennedy (XFM), Late Junction (BBC R3) and Jamie Cullum (BBC R2). The brainchild of producer and composer Acheson, Hidden Orchestra is a studio project of distinction and depth, utilising an array of sonic sources alongside a boundless range of instruments. In the live arena the music is taken to a new sphere - the core quartet formed around the duelling drum kits, percussion and electronic pads of Tim Lane and Jamie Graham, completed by Poppy Ackroyd’s violin and piano and Acheson’s bass and original samples – and their electrifying shows have cemented them firmly in the minds of a growing fanbase.
credits
released May 14, 2014
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Tru Thoughts
Copyright (c) – Tru Thoughts
Mastered At – Metropolis Studios
Pressed By – MPO
Mastered By – Andy "Hippy" Baldwin*
supported by 38 fans who also own “Archipelago Remixes: Part 2”
Years ago I fell in love with Floex's music following a playthrough of the games "Machinarium" and "Samorost", both of which he provided the music for. This album contains that same unique Floex sound and energy. keyedupagain
Delicate, beautiful songs from Italy’s Ruslan Perezhilo with gauzy, mysterious synths and melodies that are soothing and hypnotic. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 2, 2020
The esteemed producer gives a spirited salute to ’90s house in this one-off single, backed with a remix from German upstart techMOUSE. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 14, 2019
supported by 22 fans who also own “Archipelago Remixes: Part 2”
This album is a very interesting and rewarding journey into the past of floex' work. I love how the first hints of his later main elements show up at many points. Yet this album is completely different from his later work: I feel it's much more pop/lounge oriented. As always, tracks (like Labccr and Phi_log) tell whole stories without a single word and let me get lost completely in the music.
And though I like the recent style more. this album shows that he had a promosing start all along. Hans Pieper