Aidan O’Rourke – 365: Volume 2 (feat Kit Downes)
Reveal Records – 9 August 2019
Multi-award winning fiddler, composer and producer Aidan O’Rourke (Lau) is set to release his new double album 365: Volume Two on 9th August 2019 via Reveal Records.
Those familiar with Aidan O’Rourke’s 365: Volume One, will probably (by now, if not before) be well acquainted with the project that inspired that remarkable album. In 2013 Scottish author James Robertson tasked himself with writing a short story every single day of that year and confining each tale to precisely 365 words. Aidan O’ Rourke was so impressed, not only with the beautifully crafted prose Robertson produced but with the creative dedication required to complete the work, he responded with a set of 365 daily pieces, composed between March 2016 and February 2017, inspired by Robertson’s work.
365: Volume One was released, to much critical acclaim, in May last year, and with the release of 365: Volume Two Aidan continues to present highlights from both his music and Robertson’s stories; and again collaborates with Mercury Prize-nominated piano and harmonium player Kit Downes, on a second, beautifully presented, double CD collection.
Just like its predecessor, 365: Volume Two is a collection of pieces that, although sparse on the surface, are rich in texture, emotion and craft. The project seems even more remarkable with the knowledge that each of the 365 pieces Aidan composed was conceived, developed and completed, ready for performance, before work on the next piece would begin on the following day.
The sombre piano that opens the album in For about a month is rapidly transformed to a gently flowing current alongside Aidan’s softly shimmering fiddle. When it comes to achieving the remarkable coalescence that is a major feature of these works, those roles are often just as deftly reversed, to fascinating effect. It was an afternoon of possible magic is neither lively nor morose, with a power in the emphatic fiddle that seems to foster a rising strength in Kit’s harmonium. Many of the pieces offer a tentative progression – In ‘That place’ Mick said. ‘Christ, what a hole’, early fiddle exploration leads to a melody that provides substance to which the sombre harmonium can cling; while the drone of harmonium and funereal fiddle of Bill was already at his window is one of a few periods where a light is cast from the Lau ‘mothership’.
Each piece also takes inspiration from traditional Scottish melodies, and the second CD of the set opens with a more immediate interpretation of fiddle traditions. In I had been walking a long time Aidan’s fiddle quickly mirrors Kit’s halting harmonium in an air with a distinctly Highland flavour. The effect is increased with an added passion that goes beyond colours of mood and carries the listener directly to the emotion that sometimes, it seems, only four strings and a bow can unlock. That notion is soon contradicted, however, when It was the day of the great unveiling highlights the ability of Kit’s piano to provide colour and depth just as effectively; while ‘Right William trolley duty’ Kev said displays a lightness of heart from both fiddle and piano that rises and falls like a gentle tide.
There’s also a wealth of contrasts in pace and timbre across both CDs. They’d start their calling around midnight and The film was preceded by a warning that it contained some moderate violence sees piano and fiddle joined in a gentle cascade, or flirting between a melodic union and complementing harmonies. In contrast, there’s a stately feel to Jack is leaning out of his window one night admiring the full moon and the sweetly plaintive theme of The girl climbed the stairs to bed sweeps across the senses like brush strokes.
Throughout both 365 volumes, there is at times, a sense of progression in Aidan’s composition. Among the shades of Scottish and Scandinavian tradition, and the power and the tension of his more avant-garde outings, there’s a hint that Aidan has emerged from this demanding, intense and protracted creative process with an enhanced understanding of his own skills. The tumbling melody for Douglas and Aileen stood in front of the blue plaque is kept on course by a steady harmonium but, nonetheless, offers some insight into impeccable intricacy of Aidan’s playing. Some pieces, such as the baroque complexities of There’s a rumour going round, we don’t know what it is, but we all get in line even encourage the notion that, complete and gratifying though the piece is, you can imagine a forward-thinking, adventurous chamber group creating quite magnificent work with these themes.
James Robertson’s stories offer thoroughly rewarding reading, and Aidan’s habit of taking the first line from each tale as the title for its accompanying composition seems to enhance the feeling of unity. It’s worth noting, though, that Aidan’s music was written in response to each story, rather than as an accompaniment.
There is much to explore, and each visit to the collection seems to unveil new delights. Visually, the release is just as appealing as its predecessor, with magnificent artwork from Matthew Dalziel and Louise Scullion sitting alongside the relevant extracts from James Robertson’s book (365: Stories, published by Penguin). This fertile and imaginative convergence of art forms has also inspired an art installation, commissioned by the Edinburgh International Book Festival for the PRS Foundation’s New Music Biennial. Designed by inventor Yann Seznec in collaboration with design team Old School Fabrications, the installation brings together the full collection of music and stories, with readings from artists and friends, and will allow up to six people at a time to listen to the music and stories.
Planning is underway for the release, next year, of a 30-disc boxset from the project, and from January 2020, readers can also receive a daily story and tune to be delivered to their email inbox.
In 365: Stories, James Roberston’s words have inspired unique music and fascinating art. In 365: Volume 2, Aidan O’Rourke’s musical responses provide yet another fascinating, detailed and perfectly executed musical miscellany.
https://soundcloud.com/tomreveal/aidan-orourke-i-met-him-only-once-reveal-records
365: Volume 2 is released on August 9th via Reveal Records
Pre-Order via Reveal Records – Limited Edition Double CD & 24-page Booklet
Photo Credit: Victor Frankowski