(02.12.06) The Village Orchestra is the solo project of Glaswegian musician Ruaridh Law, who is also one third of Marcia Blaine School for Girls. Law describes The Village Orchestra as his “allotment or garden shed,” or in other words, a place to get away from his many other projects and experiment with sound. Et In Arcadia Ego is Law’s debut album and follows releases on Stuff Records and an appearance on the Highpoint Lowlife compilation of Scottish electronic artists, Some Paths Lead Back Again.
The shrill tones and swathes of choral texture of “COSHH” form Law’s low-key introduction to a schizophrenic album. As the tracks progress it becomes clear that there are two factions at work; one prefers distorted experimentation and clinical beats while the other opts for atmospheric drones and ethereal texture. Each is battling for position in the mix and each wins through to become prominent at various stages. Both sides are almost always there, yet one takes center stage while the other lingers inconspicuously in the background. “Sunken,” for example, takes a mass of droning texture alongside a beautifully orchestrated backdrop that eventually drowns in digital interference. In contrast, the intriguingly titled “Bryan’s Tricky ‘Do You Like the Drummer?’ Question” showcases the battle between rapid-fire metallic beats and undulating layers of sound with the beats ultimately taking the victory. Sometimes, the two styles meet and form a cohesive whole, on “Jacob/Bad Hand at Cards v2,” for example, where Law loops processed guitar chords and fuzzy clicking percussion, marrying them with indistinguishable reversed vocals and adding a deep rumbling bassline for good measure. The end result is moody melancholic atmosphere with a hypnotic quality. In contrast, “Dawn” pitches digital static over bubbling electronics, criss-crossing melodies and serene tones. Similarly, “Love Theme from ‘Two Man Rumble” features chattering blips and bleeps over fluid layers of floating sound and precise beats.
Et In Arcadia Ego keeps you guessing whether it wants to be experimental and beat-centred or melodic and textural. Mixing the two forms generally works very well, only on a couple of occasions do they seem to distract from each other. Law has an ability to create swathes of mesmerising sound from drones to gently floating atmosphere through to melodies and rhythms but is particularly accomplished when working with drones and textures.
Et In Arcadia Ego is out now on Highpoint Lowlife.
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