Manu Delago - Circadian '2019

Tracks list

World-renowned handpan player and composer Manu Delago returns with a brand-new
album, which comes hot off the heels of his acclaimed awe-inspiring short film
and album project, Parasol Peak – the transfixing Circadian. The album,
which is set for release on 13th September via One Little Indian Records (home
to Delago’s musical peer Björk), takes the listener through the cycle
of sleep stages, emulating REM, light sleep, deep sleep and abrupt awakening.
Delago was inspired by the concept of individual circadian rhythms, due in part
to his own lack of sleep as an international touring musician with Björk,
Olafur Arnalds, Cinematic Orchestra and Anoushka Shankar.

“Before I made this album I had a phase of very intense touring with
multiple trips to five different continents, without a break for several months,
“ said Delago, explaining the nocturnal theme of the record.

“It literally felt like touring with four bands simultaneously and in my
dreams, the music and crews started to commingle. I found it interesting how my
brain was trying to digest all these experiences during sleep hours. In fact,
during REM sleep the brain is very creative. In that stressful touring period, I
started to consciously appreciate sleep and how much it contributes to mastering
any challenge.”

Circadian takes the listener on a journey through the night, beginning in the
late afternoon, moving into sunset and night time, through to the morning.
“Title track ‘Circadian’ employs a repetitive 24-note-pattern
for this reason, with some small rhythmic variations symbolising that our
24-hour-rhythm is not perfect, and everyone has individual variations in their
sleep pattern – in my own case often due to jetlag” explains
Delago.

A departure from the Austrian musician’s revered electronic-leaning work
in Silver Kobalt and Metromonk, Delago incorporated percussive instruments found
on those worldwide tours – from places such as Vietnam, Russia, Turkey
and Indonesia – with an aim to create an electronic-inspired album in an
acoustic form. “I wanted to incorporate elements of the electronic music
that influences me; I used clarinets and accordion-like warm analogue
synthesizers and added strings and trombone to give it an orchestral but yet
very intimate character“ he explains.

Lead single ‘The Silent Flight of the Owl’ was written to emulate
the sound of an owl’s wings, with woodwind instruments gently performing
an acoustic version of analogue synth and a delay pedal. The track is an ode to
an unusual experience Delago had a few years ago; “I had an encounter with
an owl while I was brushing my teeth late at night. The owl landed a metre away
from me just outside the window on the ledge. It is very unusual for owls to
come that close. When I told the story to the people who lived there, they
didn’t believe me. To be honest, I’m still not fully sure if the
encounter with the owl really happened or if it was a dream.”

Delago and his ensemble even went so far as to record one of the central pieces,
20-minute long track ‘Delta Sleep’, by candlelight in the dead of
night through to the early hours of the morning, a track that symbolises the
long deep-sleep phase of one’s cycle. “I didnt go for the obvious
choice by placing that deep sleep phase at the end of the album. Instead, it
ends with a musical alarm clock, a Zeitgeber that starts another precious
day.” 

01. Manu Delago - Circadian (4:46)
02. Manu Delago - The Silent Flight Of The Owl (6:52)
03. Manu Delago - Uranus (7:12)
04. Manu Delago - The Moment Im Still Awake (5:22)
05. Manu Delago - Delta Sleep (Live At 4:33am) (21:10)
06. Manu Delago - Draem (6:08)
07. Manu Delago - Zeitgeber (4:33)

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