What are we talking about?
8mm Orchestra’s new 4 track EP released via Nottingham based label ‘I Own Your Records’ on 12 inches of Limited Edition Vinyl.
Summary
For me, the best instrumental music inspires your imagination to express its interpretation of the journey the music takes you on freely, painting vivid images in your mind step by step free from the restraints that even the most expansive lyrics can create, 8mm Orchestra achieve that with this EP.
From the curious tiptoe of ‘Flying Blind’ crescendoing into a grandiose violin laden charge its twin brother ‘Take Me With You’ follows suit, taking a similar path with a mellow, queasy charm to the effect drenched guitars and a harsh finale. There is a detour in this 4 part journey in the form of the dreamy ‘Hum’ before various colourful incarnations of the infectious rhythm and hook of ‘Dolph Lundgren’ guides you home.
This adventurous release is an absolute must listen for anybody with even the vaguest interest in the electronic/rock/experimental instrumental realm and/or listening to music under the influence of psychedelic substances. I lived with this EP for the best part of a month before typing a word in order to feel out every nook and cranny (I’m sure much to YB!s frustration), not because it is a ‘grower’ by any means, but because it’s depth deserved as much.
What hooked me?
I love to interpret art, and particularly music in my own ways so from the moment the spacious ‘Flying Blind’ kicked in and dragged me into my subconcious I was all in.
Key Track
When you go to the bandcamp page for this particular release, the track that automatically plays is the 4th and final track ‘Dolph Lundgren’, which is understandable - it is by far the catchiest and most easily accessible of the bunch, a very good piece of music by anybodies standards.
However.
The standout track here is ‘Hum’, a clear departure from the other 3 tracks with a change in instrumentation and structure including the addition of brilliantly haunting saxophone parts played by Ben Martin. There is the a voice sampled throughout, distorted and illegible but unmistakably human which seems as though it is trying to communicate some sort of message which is being obscured by the smog of droning synths, wailing saxophone and soothing toy piano melodies - this human touch, although slight and feint hits hard without encroaching on the authority that the instruments hold.
I’ve listened to this track over and again and will continue to do so for a long time to come.
Feedback
Each track other than ‘Hum’ seem to follow a loose formula of ‘meandering clean guitars decorated with effects and a driving rhythm section leading to a heavier crescendo ending’, which while I personally enjoy and find no fault in, would like to hear the band take the listener down a slightly different path more often.
Artwork
The sleeve artwork is a photograph split between the front and back of the sleeve, a distorted photograph of what looks to be a person leaping into the air in a Peter Schmeichel esque star jumping fashion. The photograph fittingly is listed as ‘Unknown’ in the credit section and is not accompanied by the band name.
For the same reasons the drowned out voice in ‘Hum’ struck a chord with me in this instrumental journey, the visual of a human being marginalised for the most part by a blank canvas and obscured by layers of effects and seemingly natural erosion is a real ‘nail on the head’ reflection of the musical presentation.
Line From The Band
8mm have a show on the 14th July at The Chameleon Arts Café in Nottingham with Methyl Ethyl.
Vital Info
Jack from 8mm Orchestra told us; "With this EP we wanted to try and unshackle this association with post-rock music. A lot of instrumental bands get tagged with this label. We don't dislike that kind of music, it's just never been us or our ethos. We just wanted to make music that we enjoy, have fun and take people there with us. It was great to experiment with collaborators and hopefully surprise some people with what we've got to offer."
Reviewer Profile
Craig Twigg, still the front man of incoming Chemic/Grunge/Fuzz/Alt Rock trio ‘Forever In Debt’, still a ginger in denial who still occasionally (albeit slightly less often) wrestles dudes in spandex. Still a full time miserable twat.
8mm Orchestra’s new 4 track EP released via Nottingham based label ‘I Own Your Records’ on 12 inches of Limited Edition Vinyl.
Summary
For me, the best instrumental music inspires your imagination to express its interpretation of the journey the music takes you on freely, painting vivid images in your mind step by step free from the restraints that even the most expansive lyrics can create, 8mm Orchestra achieve that with this EP.
From the curious tiptoe of ‘Flying Blind’ crescendoing into a grandiose violin laden charge its twin brother ‘Take Me With You’ follows suit, taking a similar path with a mellow, queasy charm to the effect drenched guitars and a harsh finale. There is a detour in this 4 part journey in the form of the dreamy ‘Hum’ before various colourful incarnations of the infectious rhythm and hook of ‘Dolph Lundgren’ guides you home.
This adventurous release is an absolute must listen for anybody with even the vaguest interest in the electronic/rock/experimental instrumental realm and/or listening to music under the influence of psychedelic substances. I lived with this EP for the best part of a month before typing a word in order to feel out every nook and cranny (I’m sure much to YB!s frustration), not because it is a ‘grower’ by any means, but because it’s depth deserved as much.
What hooked me?
I love to interpret art, and particularly music in my own ways so from the moment the spacious ‘Flying Blind’ kicked in and dragged me into my subconcious I was all in.
Key Track
When you go to the bandcamp page for this particular release, the track that automatically plays is the 4th and final track ‘Dolph Lundgren’, which is understandable - it is by far the catchiest and most easily accessible of the bunch, a very good piece of music by anybodies standards.
However.
The standout track here is ‘Hum’, a clear departure from the other 3 tracks with a change in instrumentation and structure including the addition of brilliantly haunting saxophone parts played by Ben Martin. There is the a voice sampled throughout, distorted and illegible but unmistakably human which seems as though it is trying to communicate some sort of message which is being obscured by the smog of droning synths, wailing saxophone and soothing toy piano melodies - this human touch, although slight and feint hits hard without encroaching on the authority that the instruments hold.
I’ve listened to this track over and again and will continue to do so for a long time to come.
Feedback
Each track other than ‘Hum’ seem to follow a loose formula of ‘meandering clean guitars decorated with effects and a driving rhythm section leading to a heavier crescendo ending’, which while I personally enjoy and find no fault in, would like to hear the band take the listener down a slightly different path more often.
Artwork
The sleeve artwork is a photograph split between the front and back of the sleeve, a distorted photograph of what looks to be a person leaping into the air in a Peter Schmeichel esque star jumping fashion. The photograph fittingly is listed as ‘Unknown’ in the credit section and is not accompanied by the band name.
For the same reasons the drowned out voice in ‘Hum’ struck a chord with me in this instrumental journey, the visual of a human being marginalised for the most part by a blank canvas and obscured by layers of effects and seemingly natural erosion is a real ‘nail on the head’ reflection of the musical presentation.
Line From The Band
8mm have a show on the 14th July at The Chameleon Arts Café in Nottingham with Methyl Ethyl.
Vital Info
Jack from 8mm Orchestra told us; "With this EP we wanted to try and unshackle this association with post-rock music. A lot of instrumental bands get tagged with this label. We don't dislike that kind of music, it's just never been us or our ethos. We just wanted to make music that we enjoy, have fun and take people there with us. It was great to experiment with collaborators and hopefully surprise some people with what we've got to offer."
Reviewer Profile
Craig Twigg, still the front man of incoming Chemic/Grunge/Fuzz/Alt Rock trio ‘Forever In Debt’, still a ginger in denial who still occasionally (albeit slightly less often) wrestles dudes in spandex. Still a full time miserable twat.