Brisk and bumpy electronica is submerged in organic soundscapes and sonic vistas that appear out of nowhere.
A brilliantly choreographed group of instrumentals
“I’m influenced by everything I’ve ever heard, a lot of these sounds aren’t inherently musical, but I’ll try to find something with a musical quality within it. I also like the intentions of a lot of sacred choral music, creations that look upwards, this has a big aesthetic influence on the way I try to create.” ~Hidden Orchestra
When I listen to the catchy songs and lovely instrumentals of Hidden Orchestra (also known as Joe Acheson), I’m reminded of early Four Tet. “Little Buddy Move” is a shining example of Hidden Orchestra’s vast awareness of percussive energy and melodic fibers connecting in unison—flashback to “Everything is Alright,” from Four Tet’s Pause album. Brisk and bumpy electronica is submerged in organic soundscapes and sonic vistas that appear out of nowhere.
And yet, there is just so much more to learn from these ten works. Amon Tobin-styled Bricolage flares abound in the enthralling downtempo treasure trove of “Ripple” and “Broken,” yet there is still plenty of room to get lost in the album’s imaginative world. The ending title track with its emotively charged orchestra is a dramatic engagement of sound spaces, while “Nightfall” offers an auditory getaway through finely cast piano keys and soothing pitter-patter beats. “Hammered” is characterized by darker glitch, granular bleeps, and classical undertones.
With its overarching beatwork, synth splashes, and rhythmic flow influenced by Kattoo, “Skylarks” stands out as a highlight of such a brilliantly choreographed group of instrumentals. “Reverse Learning,” a track that floats around cutting-edge experimental jazz components, allows To Dream is to Forget to rank highly on our selection of the top albums of 2023.
Written, recorded and produced by Joe Acheson.
Most drums recorded by Tim Lane.
Fujara recorded by George Gillespie.
Mastered by Matouš Godík.
To Dream is to Forget is available on Long Figures. [Bandcamp]
