Artwork by Alan Lee
Produced & Mixed by Sam Beste Mastered by Peter Beckmann, Technology Works Ft Linde Timmermans (violin) & Simon Roth (percussion) |
Debut album 'unfurl'
|
TRACK INFO:
ROCKERS
Rockers was born out of an experiment - Sam had a habit of recording us whilst we were warming up and improvising at the beginning of each session to get into the sound of the vast recording space and settle. The starting repetitive riff played by the cello came from that and a few of the harmonic developments. Recording late at night we started playing with some of the motifs, layering, re-pitching, processing. What resulted was Rockers. The perfect introduction to set the vibe for ‘unfurl’.
DOINA i
Doina i is a transcription and interpretation of a very old Jewish Doina captured on wax cylinder and original named ‘National Hora.1’ from the archival recording collection ‘Yikhes (Lineage) - Early Klezmer Recordings 1911-1939’ where originally the violinist (and renowned band leader) Abe Schwartz doubles up his E & A strings in octaves, stylistic at the time, and is accompanied by his daughter Sylvia Schwartz on piano.
ROMANIAN FANTASIES
Romanian Fantasies is an amalgamation of two short instrumental Jewish pieces originally recorded by violinist Josef Solinski and an unknown cimbalom player onto a wax cylinder c.1911 in Russia. This is part of a larger suite from the earlier recordings which Fran & Flora have combined two into a modern lyrical interpretation of the original tune and ambiguous accompaniment. The cimbalom part (hammer dulcimer) is replaced by Francesca’s percussive cello line and Flora’s melody flows evocatively over the top.
LA OBREJA
Traditional song from Banat, Transylvania
La Obreja-ntr-o grădină
O prins doru' rădăcina
Au, au, au... Ioane, Ioane
După tine doda moare.
Eu am vrut să-l iau cu mine
Da' rădăcina îl ţâne
Au, au, au... dodă, dodă
Ia mai stai cu noi dă vorbă.
Translation
In a garden in Obreja
A longing took root (began)
Au au au
I am dying after you.
I wanted to take him with me
But the roots are keeping him
Au au au sister sister
Stay with us still for a talk
Song by Achim Nica
GEAMPORALES
Fran & Flora learnt this up-beat dance tune from their friend Linde Timmermans (Belgian violinist, composer and horse-whisperer) who features as lead violin on the ‘unfurl’ recording. Geamporales is a traditional dance tune in a 7/8 groove from Romania written by Florea Turcita.
DOINA ii
Fran & Flora learnt this dark free-flowing lament from Hungarian Roma violinist István “Kiscsipás” Varga from Kalotaszeg, Transylvania. Whilst staying true Doina’s original form, this performance leaves space for real-time improvisation and winding developments.
TALKING TREES
Talking Trees evolved out of our affinity for a dark Thracian tune we learned in Crete. We added expansive vocals, pitched down processed strings (the low wave-like sound), intense solo sections, lamenting Indian Lehra-inspired riffs, Juno synthesizer, and a trippy layered cello improvisation in the middle mirroring the main theme. All in all this is a marmite love it or hate it track but we hope it evokes the sound of trees talking to each other in the darkness if you listen to it late at night with your eyes closed.
MAYN RUE PLATZ:
Mayn Rue Platz (My Resting Place) is a reinterpretation of well known poem & melody by Morris Rosenfeld, one of the 'Sweat Shop Poets' of early 20th century New York. Sung by Francesca Ter-Berg and arranged by Fran & Flora with Sam Beste, the poem and song both tell the true story of a factory worker who died in a fire, singing to his lover from the afterlife. The words capture the dismal life of the factory worker which is contrasted with the beauty of their shared dreams.
Lyrics:
Nit zukh mikh vu di mirtn grinen
Gefinst mikh dortn nit, mayn shats.
Vu lebns velkn bay mashinen,
Dortn iz mayn rue plats.
Nit zukh mikh vu di feygl zingen.
Gefinst mikh dortn nit, mayn shats.
A shklaf bin ikh vu keytn klingen,
Dortn iz mayn rue plats.
Nit zukh mikh vu fontanen shpritsn.
Gefinst mikh dortn nit, mayn shats.
Vu trern rinen, tseyner kritsn,
Dortn iz mayn rue plats.
Un libstu mikh mit varer libe,
To kum tsu mir, mayn guter shats,
Un hayter oyf mayn harts di tribe
Un makh mir zis mayn rue plats
Translation
Don't look for me where myrtles are green.
You will not find me there, my beloved.
Where lives wither at the machines,
There is my resting place.
Don't look for me where birds sing.
You will not find me there, my beloved.
I am a slave where chains ring,
There is my resting place.
Don't look for me where fountains spray.
You will not find me there, my beloved.
Where tears flow and teeth gnash,
There is my resting place.
And if you love me with true love,
So come to me, my good beloved,
And cheer my gloomy heart
And make sweet my resting place
Melody & Lyrics by Morris Rosenfeld.
NUBAR NUBAR:
A traditional Armenian tune we learning on a hill in Houdetsi, Crete with lyra Maestro Ross Daly and violinist Giorgos Papaioannou. Nubar Nubar is in the 10/8 popular upbeat Jurjana rhythm of Armenia. We hve stayed true to the form but experimented with layers, adding a free form Taksim inspired intro and are joined by our friend Simon Roth on frame drum and bells.
DEPARTURES:
A layering of multiple improvisations hashed together by our producer Sam Beste which was joined together by Flora’s lamenting high vocals. Full of reverse, delay and static, It invites us in, it remains cold and winding. It develops slowly and sits within itself waiting to open but stays put. Departures is the still and uncertain end to the ‘unfurl’ journey.
ROCKERS
Rockers was born out of an experiment - Sam had a habit of recording us whilst we were warming up and improvising at the beginning of each session to get into the sound of the vast recording space and settle. The starting repetitive riff played by the cello came from that and a few of the harmonic developments. Recording late at night we started playing with some of the motifs, layering, re-pitching, processing. What resulted was Rockers. The perfect introduction to set the vibe for ‘unfurl’.
DOINA i
Doina i is a transcription and interpretation of a very old Jewish Doina captured on wax cylinder and original named ‘National Hora.1’ from the archival recording collection ‘Yikhes (Lineage) - Early Klezmer Recordings 1911-1939’ where originally the violinist (and renowned band leader) Abe Schwartz doubles up his E & A strings in octaves, stylistic at the time, and is accompanied by his daughter Sylvia Schwartz on piano.
ROMANIAN FANTASIES
Romanian Fantasies is an amalgamation of two short instrumental Jewish pieces originally recorded by violinist Josef Solinski and an unknown cimbalom player onto a wax cylinder c.1911 in Russia. This is part of a larger suite from the earlier recordings which Fran & Flora have combined two into a modern lyrical interpretation of the original tune and ambiguous accompaniment. The cimbalom part (hammer dulcimer) is replaced by Francesca’s percussive cello line and Flora’s melody flows evocatively over the top.
LA OBREJA
Traditional song from Banat, Transylvania
La Obreja-ntr-o grădină
O prins doru' rădăcina
Au, au, au... Ioane, Ioane
După tine doda moare.
Eu am vrut să-l iau cu mine
Da' rădăcina îl ţâne
Au, au, au... dodă, dodă
Ia mai stai cu noi dă vorbă.
Translation
In a garden in Obreja
A longing took root (began)
Au au au
I am dying after you.
I wanted to take him with me
But the roots are keeping him
Au au au sister sister
Stay with us still for a talk
Song by Achim Nica
GEAMPORALES
Fran & Flora learnt this up-beat dance tune from their friend Linde Timmermans (Belgian violinist, composer and horse-whisperer) who features as lead violin on the ‘unfurl’ recording. Geamporales is a traditional dance tune in a 7/8 groove from Romania written by Florea Turcita.
DOINA ii
Fran & Flora learnt this dark free-flowing lament from Hungarian Roma violinist István “Kiscsipás” Varga from Kalotaszeg, Transylvania. Whilst staying true Doina’s original form, this performance leaves space for real-time improvisation and winding developments.
TALKING TREES
Talking Trees evolved out of our affinity for a dark Thracian tune we learned in Crete. We added expansive vocals, pitched down processed strings (the low wave-like sound), intense solo sections, lamenting Indian Lehra-inspired riffs, Juno synthesizer, and a trippy layered cello improvisation in the middle mirroring the main theme. All in all this is a marmite love it or hate it track but we hope it evokes the sound of trees talking to each other in the darkness if you listen to it late at night with your eyes closed.
MAYN RUE PLATZ:
Mayn Rue Platz (My Resting Place) is a reinterpretation of well known poem & melody by Morris Rosenfeld, one of the 'Sweat Shop Poets' of early 20th century New York. Sung by Francesca Ter-Berg and arranged by Fran & Flora with Sam Beste, the poem and song both tell the true story of a factory worker who died in a fire, singing to his lover from the afterlife. The words capture the dismal life of the factory worker which is contrasted with the beauty of their shared dreams.
Lyrics:
Nit zukh mikh vu di mirtn grinen
Gefinst mikh dortn nit, mayn shats.
Vu lebns velkn bay mashinen,
Dortn iz mayn rue plats.
Nit zukh mikh vu di feygl zingen.
Gefinst mikh dortn nit, mayn shats.
A shklaf bin ikh vu keytn klingen,
Dortn iz mayn rue plats.
Nit zukh mikh vu fontanen shpritsn.
Gefinst mikh dortn nit, mayn shats.
Vu trern rinen, tseyner kritsn,
Dortn iz mayn rue plats.
Un libstu mikh mit varer libe,
To kum tsu mir, mayn guter shats,
Un hayter oyf mayn harts di tribe
Un makh mir zis mayn rue plats
Translation
Don't look for me where myrtles are green.
You will not find me there, my beloved.
Where lives wither at the machines,
There is my resting place.
Don't look for me where birds sing.
You will not find me there, my beloved.
I am a slave where chains ring,
There is my resting place.
Don't look for me where fountains spray.
You will not find me there, my beloved.
Where tears flow and teeth gnash,
There is my resting place.
And if you love me with true love,
So come to me, my good beloved,
And cheer my gloomy heart
And make sweet my resting place
Melody & Lyrics by Morris Rosenfeld.
NUBAR NUBAR:
A traditional Armenian tune we learning on a hill in Houdetsi, Crete with lyra Maestro Ross Daly and violinist Giorgos Papaioannou. Nubar Nubar is in the 10/8 popular upbeat Jurjana rhythm of Armenia. We hve stayed true to the form but experimented with layers, adding a free form Taksim inspired intro and are joined by our friend Simon Roth on frame drum and bells.
DEPARTURES:
A layering of multiple improvisations hashed together by our producer Sam Beste which was joined together by Flora’s lamenting high vocals. Full of reverse, delay and static, It invites us in, it remains cold and winding. It develops slowly and sits within itself waiting to open but stays put. Departures is the still and uncertain end to the ‘unfurl’ journey.
