--Green Isac Orchestra- Green Isac Orchestra
STYLE
December 2015
Ethno-electronic fusion.
Gentle and relaxing, rich and heady; Green Isac Orchestra soothes and stimulates the senses with a deft blend of electronic individuality and acoustic passion. The ensemble manages to produce music of great serenity and melodic warmth without ever falling into new-age cheesiness. The themes are gracefully understated; the beats languid, tribal; the colours deep and saturated. There are elements here to please fans of entho-ambient music whilst at the same time perhaps appealing to downtempo lovers that enjoy global sounds. The list of sound sources is broad: with electric cello, Variax guitar, shahi baaja, kalimba and Chinese hammered dulcimer interwoven with piano, mellotron, synthesisers and samplers. Beats bring together electronic drums, djembe, tumbadora, shekere and ghatam. This sprawling diversity of sound, however, is masterfully combined and performed with such elegance that there is a great sense of authenticity about Green Isac Orchestra. This is not cut-and-paste sampler music.
ARTWORK
Green Isac Orchestra is delivered in a pale gatefold card wallet with something of a minimal approach: colours are simple, pastel hues of limited palette; fonts are unfussy and fine; information restricted to the necessary details of personnel, recording credits and Internet addresses. The frontal image has a lone figure on an endless plane gazing ahead into eternity - only a shadow for company. Track titles appear with running times on the rear cover.
OVERALL
Green Isac have been producing music for around a quarter of a century now; Morten Lund and Andreas Eriksen working as a duo focussing on instrumentation and percussion respectively. Green Isac Orchestra sees the addition of three more players: Frode Larsen on percussion and bells; Tov Ramstad on cello, ukulele, saw and bass and Jo Wang on keyboards. The resultant recordings are engrossing, meditative affairs that do so much more than throw ethnic sounds into the mix as flavours or just for effect. The combination feels very 'right' as if transcending ethnic origins; very 'natural' since expression and performance are clearly central features. Do explore this quality release via the ensemble's own website or by means of the Spotted Peccary label page where you can find listening opportunities, videos, purchasing options and a wealth of information.