After a recent period spent focusing on sound art installations, collaborations, and video game scoring, Joe Acheson’s Hidden Orchestra project returns with a new album titled To Dream Is To Forget set for release on September 22th. Today second single Skylarks is revealed.

From quiet beginnings Skylarks grows impressively in stature, riding intriguing musical currents to its dramatic crescendo ending.

A highly conceptual piece, the track and title are in part inspired by a Prix Marulic winning radio documentary Acheson previously worked on about three different people's experiences of being in the sky - Skylarks, by Cathy Fitzgerald.

Delving deeper there are multiple points of interest and stories within the rich sonics in this arrangement. An analog modular synth is employed to mimic the sound of a hang-glider's altimeter, which beeps quicker and higher the further up it goes. Low swooping noises and sub bass notes originate from manipulated recordings of skylarks, while an ingenious stroke of sound design sees slowed-down recordings of a bee become a mechanical whirring sound, the original recording for which was taken in a field of skylarks on Inishbofin island (featured on the cover of the album).

Listen + share:

https://ffm.to/skylarks

Since its inception, producer and composer Joe Acheson has carefully developed Hidden Orchestra from a simple initial project concept of ‘an imagined orchestra’ into something that has flourished into a widespan musical universe of its own, that is truly unlike anything else.

After multiple albums with respected independent label Tru Thoughts, continued support from the likes of The Guardian, BBC6Music, FIP, JazzFM, several awards for innovative soundtrack work intertwined with AI and consistent global touring of an energetic and intriguing live show featuring two duelling drummers, their reach and influence has swollen to make them one of the highest regarded names in independent music today and has even led to collaborations beyond the world of music, with The British Library, Kew Gardens and National Trust all enlisting Acheson for unique installation projects. Yet regardless of the current brief in front of him, the initial mission statement to ‘create electronic music with acoustic means’ remains.

Acheson achieves this task with aplomb, conjuring intricate yet expansive worlds of sound, built in collaboration with a select core of talented musicians, combined with Acheson’s bespoke samples, field recordings, and carefully honed composition and arrangement sensibilities. Detail and craftsmanship are at the core of everything he does, even musically directing a diverse array of instrumentalists to capture unique samples of both improvised and scored nature. This ingenious approach really sets his work apart from the crowd and allows Acheson’s artistic vision to come to life exactly as intended.

While new album To Dream Is To Forget certainly maintains this mission statement, it does also bring about a sea change for the project on a few fronts. Released via Acheson’s own newly formed Lone Figures imprint, the musical direction for the record involved a concerted effort to condense musical themes and ideas into more immediate arrangements, with less utilisation of field recordings than previously released material.

Predominantly sticking to this ethos has indeed meant an average track length reduction throughout, however there is still the same high level of musicality and no shortage of ideas within this rich collection of 10 original tracks.

Experimental Producer/ Composer Project HIDDEN ORCHESTRA Reveals Second Single from Upcoming Album

Reading Alt-Rockers InAir Return With Blistering New Single 'Leap of Faith'

William The Conqueror | New album 'Excuse Me While I Vanish" out today | Nationwide instores July & August