Exclusive track taken from the upcoming ‘Safe House EP’ forthcoming on 1631 Recordings…
Acclaimed British composer and multi-instrumentalist Danny Mulhern returns with a new EP Safe House for 1631 Recordings. Following on from 2017’s full-length debut, Reflections On A Dead Sea, Safe House acts as an accompaniment to Danny’s previous Metanoia release and continues his series of collaborations with players from the London Contemporary Orchestra.
Here, languid strings and delicate melodic embellishments concentrate on painting eidetic, sombre scenes that possess Danny’s vivid, panoramic eye for detail and instinctive song progressions. Safe House also sees Danny utilising his virtuosity as a composer introducing more electronic and rhythmically driven offerings that dip toes into classic IDM, off kilter downbeat electronica and desolate ambience simultaneously.
Danny says of the release “I see Safe House very much as a companion piece to last year’s Metanoia. They were recorded at the same time, over a few sessions with the same ensemble, and have a similar meditative, reflective quality. They are both improvised and ‘composed’ elements to the pieces, giving the music an energy, which belies its contemplative nature”
Title track Safe House encapsulates the reflective atmosphere perfectly; opening on gently plucked harp notes flecked with reverb, which are quickly swallowed by pensive legato violin bringing to mind the subtler side of Fennesz or Dave Harrington. Set In Motion is an instantly enveloping piano ballad where mournful timbres and a repetitive piano motifs engulf the listener and carry them on a transcendent voyage to the remotest corners possible.
Safe House also employs elements of electronic music to the sound design, most prominently on the track Weight Of A Nation; the pizzicato strings emulating the percussive, melodic techno of Pantha Du Prince a merging of styles that feels completely effortless. Arrival displays Danny’s intricate knowledge of ambient techno tonalities and scratched up IDM drum patterns, to create a glistening environment temporarily summoning Susumu Yokota and Mark Pritchard until the curtain is drawn once more and the listener is, again, captivated by elongated strings.
Danny Mulhern has a history in soundtrack work and has recently completed the score for the latest Hilary Swank and Michael Shannon movie What They Had, again in collaboration with London Contemporary Orchestra, which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Safe House continues a period of inspiration triggered by working with the ensemble on a film score in 2016. For this EP, Danny collaborated with the same exceptional players, bringing a holistic feel to the series.
Release Date: 15.06.18