For his single, ‘Paintings on the Wall’, the Austrian composer, innovator, Grammy nominee and acclaimed percussionist Manu Delago has teamed up with the vocal ensemble Mad About Lemon.
Taken from his new album ‘Snow From Yesterday’, out on February 2nd through One Little Independent Records, the single, which was released late last year, was written as a tribute to his stepfather. Manu tells us, “he passed away last year, and I wrote the lyrics immediately after, and we just started working on it with Mad About Lemon, and we performed it at the funeral five days later. So it was an immediate emotional response. And that was a really beautiful coming together for us. It’s kind of a fantasy, my stepfather was a painter so it’s got these slightly mad abstract lyrics that don’t make a lot of sense. There’s more transience in this one, someone who has passed away but hundreds of their paintings are left behind.”
In the accompanying video, the group play in a circle facing outward, an act that must amplify focus and heighten the experience of playing. There’s a gentle touch throughout the song and a level of attention that accentuates each element beautifully – Delago’s trademark handpan, the dreamy vocals of Mad About Lemon, subdued brass and clarinet, and sympathetic bass. The whole piece could be compared to a painting, one that amplifies the artistic vision.
The subtlety of their approach provides an extra depth to the music that feels somehow empathetic in nature and underpins Delago’s wish for these pieces to be perceived as messages of hope. Whether personal or environmental, everything is temporary, fleeting but also magical and adaptable. As the album notes state:
Whether personal or environmental, everything is temporary, fleeting, but also magical and adaptable. Water can bring great danger, even death, but it’s also a life giver.
Paintings on the Wall is also our Song of the Day.
Pre-order/Stream: https://manudelago.lnk.to/paintings
Tour dates
Jan 31: Treibhaus, Innsbruck AT
Feb 1: Treibhaus, Innsbruck AT
Feb 2: Altes Kino, Landeck AT
Feb 3: Komma, Wörgl AT
Feb 4: Neuwirt, Wattens AT
Feb 8: Upper Chappel, Sheffield UK
Feb 9: Metronome, Nottingham UK
Feb 10: Philharmonic Music Room, Liverpool UK
Feb 11: Beacon, Bristol UK
Feb 13: Round Chapel, London UK
Feb 14: Summerhall, Edinburgh UK
Feb 15: Mono, Glasgow UK
Feb 16: Cobalt Studios, Newcastle UK
Feb 28: ARGE, Salzburg AT
Feb 29: Posthof, Linz AT
Mar 1: Kultur im Gugg, Braunau AT
Mar 3: A38, Budapest HU
Mar 4: Konzerthaus, Vienna AT
Mar 8: Bundeskunsthalle, Bonn GER
Mar 9: St. Martinskirche, Hannover GER
Mar 10: Colosseum, Berlin GER
Mar 12: Burghof, Lörrach GER
Apr 12: Altes Kino, Mels CH
Apr 13: Cully Jazz Festival CH
Apr 14: bee-flat, Berne CH
Apr 16: Centre des Arts, Geneva CH
Apr 26: Spielboden, Dornbirn AT
Apr 27: Rathaussaal, Telfs AT
Apr 28: Gustav-Mahler-Saal, Toblach IT
June 28: Kunsthaus, Mürz AT
June 30: Musikfest Waidhofen AT
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