Impressionistic ambient music for wordless voice, classical guitar and electronics

13 MP3 Songs in this album (38:43) !
Related styles: NEW AGE: Ambient, CLASSICAL: Impressionism

People who are interested in Philip Glass Erik Satie Harold Budd & Brian Eno should consider this download.


Details:
The composer and classical guitarist Neil Campbell has followed a number of seemingly divergent musical paths throughout his musical career including free improviser, singer songwriter, systems music composer, band leader and virtuoso guitar soloist.

In 1998 he simultaneously became involved with the free improvisation scene and the acoustic scene in Liverpool. Around this time he also began postgraduate studies in Music through the University of Liverpool.

Through his MA studies he developed an approach to music making based around musical systems or processes which run automatically without 'composerly' intervention. This has resulted in the production of an ongoing body of work, much of which has been recorded and has received airplay on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction. The albums documenting this work are 'Rotations' (2003) and the 3 CD set 'Assembly' (2005). Neil's work in this area continues with a large scale collaboration with Jon Anderson (leader of the progressive rock band Yes) and with the recording of several new compositions.

Over the last three years Neil has poured his activities as a composer, songwriter and performer into work with the Neil Campbell Collective which has evolved in terms of band membership and approach from a singer-songwriter duo to a full blown band playing ever more complex compositions.

In May 2005 the Neil Campbell Collective released their first album '3 O'Clock Sky' (2005), which was a critical success. The band's music following release of this first album has focused on developing an ever more complex musical language and band interplay, almost leaving standard song structures behind in the process.

The band's second album 'Particle Theory', released in early 2008, features an eclectic range of musical styles and sonic diversions and features a wealth of wonderful guest musicians (including Anne Taft). It has recieved incredible critical acclaim from progressive and experimental rock commentators and reviewers.

After twenty-five years of playing, a virtuoso classical guitarist, Neil has produced two CDs of solo guitar music 'Through the Looking Glass' (Mayfield 2003) and 'Night Sketches' (2004) and a book of Music for Solo Guitar. He has also recorded, with cellist Nicole Collarbone, a CD of Music for Cello and Guitar - 'Fall' (2006) and an album of songs in collaboration with Stuart Todd, entitled 'Campbell Todd' (2007).

All of his recorded output listed above is available through CD Baby either as CD or for digital download (or both).

Neil's new album 'Ghost Stories' (a collaboration with Michael Beiert and Anne Taft) is the spiritual follow up to his 2004 album 'Night Sketches'. Like 'Night Sketches' it is evocative of the night with its dreamy atmospheres and haunting melodies. On 'Ghost Stories', added to Neil's moody and introspective classical guitar playing, are soundscapes by German electro-acoustic composer Michael Beiert and soaring wordless vocals by soprano Anne Taft.

The impressionistic 'Ghost Stories' is presented in a number of short 2-4 minute movements which are segued together by an ongoing soundscape to form a seamless musical experience which takes the listener on a journey through the course of the night into the following dawn.

An emotional experience, the music from the album is to be presented throughout 2008/9 in a series of concerts and multimedia events which will vary from performance to performance in their inclusion of experimental film, visual arts, contemporary dance and narration - the aim being to open the work up to collaboration from all fields and fully explore the scope and atmosphere of the music. The album's launch date is, appropriately, Halloween night (31st Oct 2008)- the setting: an inner city church in European Capital of Culture Liverpool.

Anne Taft â Anne Taft is a Liverpool born singer/songwriter. She trained at the Guildhall School of Music before embarking on a professional career in musical theatre. Following the birth of her daughter (who is now 18!) Anne returned to her roots, where she took up her position as head of singing at Liverpool Community College. She has continued to work as a freelance singer and enjoys working across many genres from the acclaimed Carole King tribute band 'Tapestry' to the fabulous 1980's disco phenomena 'Fantasy' and her own family band, 'The Tafts' who are no strangers to the Liverpool folk music scene. Her work as a vocalist demonstrates a phenomenal range. She contributed a powerful wordless soprano section on the 'Particle Theory' album and continues to work with Neil on his recent 'Ghost Stories' collaboration (also with Michael Beiert).

Michael Beiert - Hailing from Cologne, Germany, Michael Beiert is now a Liverpool based composer specializing in Electro-acoustic Music. Recent projects include a collaborative piece for amplified oboe, amplified tap dancer and live electronics featuring American dancer Sally Crawford which had its premiere at the Liverpool Cornerstone Festival in 2007. Michael won the 2005 Rector's Prize for Composition at Liverpool Hope University for an acousmatic composition, which has served as motivation to embark on a PhD programme at Liverpool University from September 2008. Michael has been working as a lecturer in Music Technology at Liverpool Hope University since 2005. He is collaborating with Neil and Anne Taft on their 'Ghost Stories' recording and live performance project.