Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Phantom Orchard - Orra [Tzadik - 2008]

Phantom Orchard is the sonic joining of forcers of two of the most respected women in experimental music; Ikue Mori (Death Ambient, Electric Masada,solo work, ect) and Zeena Parkins (Carbon, Keep The Dog, News From Babel, solo,ect). Orra is the projects first wonderful sonic fruit - which sit’s between creative electronics, world music, quirky classical elements, sound tracking, ambience and improv elements.

Through out most of it’s life Orra creates a very  golden, mysterious, lush and at times mischievous sonic place that often feels like a strange fairytale coming to life from the pages of some ancient and ornate fairytale book- all vast magic fishes swiming in silver seas, treasure laden forest and winged little people flying in gold and red sunsets.

The albums sound is built around Parkins Electric Harp & acoustic Harp that weaves exquisite, harmonic and atmospheric trails through Ikue Mori creative, varied and often dense but never overcrowded electronic elements. With supporting roles from Cyro Baptista on Percussion; that dances with world music flavours and steel drum topical  rhythmic lushness from Josh Quillen, with occasional  jewsharp buzz from Makigami Koichi and vocal elements & real time processing from Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje. The most pleasing and rewarding  thing about the whole album is the way there pair have managed to mix electronic and organic instrumental textures into a seemless lush, play and exotic whole.

A highly pleasing, ornate and lush slice of experimental music that stays creative and daring yet harmonic and approachable.

Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5

Roger Batty
Latest Reviews

Phantom Orchard - Orra
Phantom Orchard is the sonic joining of forcers of two of the most respected women in experimental music; Ikue Mori (Death Ambient, Electric Masada,solo...
190424   Zachary James Watkins - Affir...
180424   Ulvtharm - 7 Uthras
180424   The Bad Shepherd - The Bad Sh...
180424   Impulse - Impulse( Blu Ray)
170424   Jan Jelinek - Social Engine...
170424   Carlos “Zíngaro”, Guilherme R...
160424   The Borderlands - The Borderl...
160424   Rien - The New Source Recording
160424   Worship - Thoughts
150424   Lion-Girl - Lion-Girl(Blu Ray)
Latest Articles

The Music of Clay Ruby & Burial H...
Over the last couple of decades Wisconsin native, Clay Ruby has been creating some of the world’s finest dark electronic music under the Burial Hex mon...
280324   The Music of Clay Ruby & Buri...
290224   Sutcliffe No More - Normal Ev...
100124   Occlusion - The Operation Is...
181223   Best Of 2023 - Music, Sound &...
051223   Powerhouse Films - Of Magic, ...
181023   IO - Of Sound, Of Art, Of Exp...
210923   Lucky Cerruti - Of Not so Fri...
290823   The Residents - The Trouble W...
110723   Yotzeret Sheydim Interview - ...
250523   TenHornedBeast - Into The Dee...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2023. Twenty two years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom