Outside the Lines, Vol. 5

DL | Out on Thu 28 Jul

The fifth edition of our eclectic compilation, showcasing five emerging composers demonstrating their diverse creative practices with extended instrumental techniques, Artificial Intelligence and electronic manipulation.

A resonant knock on a piano followed by a deep inhalation opens Atefeh Einali’s piano work ‘Dard (دَرد)’, which translates as ‘pain’ in English. Pianist Késia Decoté lends her delicate touch to cluster chords, with motifs continually unravelling into improvisatory figures. Einali suggests in the score that the performer weaves past repertoire into those improvisations, bringing the thread of memory – a central tenet of Einali’s creative practice – to the fore of this work.

Elischa Kaminer’s deft use of electronics unfurls in ‘the ocean the time the purple the stars’. Unison string chords grate with striking jabs, slowly rising in pitch and increasing in distortion. Kaminer’s own piercing childlike vocals overlay manipulated cello stems played by Cecilia Bignall, as the texture gradually transforms into a serene sustained section embellished with evocative whispers.

Emily Abdy draws focus to the information pamphlet for a contraceptive pill in her track ‘Microgynon 30’. Abdy reads the text aloud, accompanied by layered vocal drones which emulate the hormonal lilts of those taking the pill (static) and those not taking it (fluctuating). The microtonal accompaniment eerily ascends to reflect the text as the dangers of the medication are articulated, forging an ominous contrast to the monotone nature of the vocal delivery.

Buoyant strings ricochet off hazy electronics, occasionally flickering with glints of harmonics – Simon Knighton’s track ‘Dynamical Systems Two’ melds together electronics and acoustics in his musical response to dynamical systems. Knighton has used Artificial Intelligence facilities to splice together fragments of improvisation by cellist Peggy Nolan and violinist Gemma South. The track takes its name and inspiration from a scientific concept at the intersection of maths and nature.

Meditative cello drones are layered with delicate harp and echoes of percussion in red panel’s track ‘plains.columns’. Hazy harp melodies moves in and out of focus over murmuring electronic drones in Kieran Timbrell’s composition, conjuring an expansive yet desolate atmosphere to close the compilation.

Track list:

Atefeh Einali (performed by Késia Decoté) – Dard (دَرد)
Elischa Kaminer – the ocean the time the purple the stars
Emily Abdy – Microgynon 30
Simon Knighton – Dynamical Systems Two
red panel – plains.columns

Atefeh Einali, Elischa Kaminer, Emily Abdy and Simon Knighton are the Nonclassical Associate Composers 2021-2022. As part of this developmental scheme, they have the opportunity to release a track of their music on the Nonclassical label. Each composer brings a distinct compositional practice to their work; from fusing scientific ideas with music to merging classical composition with singer-songwriter practices, the variety is captivating.
The music collective red panel were the runners-up at Nonclassical’s 2022 Battle of the Bands event. They are a fluid collection of composers, multi-instrumentalists and sound artists based in the UK and Germany.