Album: Escala
Artist: Escala
2009 Simco Limited, under exclusive license to Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
CD: 88697474232

Escala:
Izzy [Johnston]: violin
Victoria [Lyon]: violin
Chantal [Leverton]: viola
Tasya [Hodges]: cello

with
Trevor Horn: guitar (2), piano (4), bass (5-8), programming (4, 5, 8-11)
Slash: lead guitar (3)
John Shanks: guitar (3)
Phil Palmer: guitar (5, 6, 8)
Steven Lipson: guitar (8)
Lol Creme: guitar (8)
Chris Elliot: piano (2, 7, 10, 11), harpsichord (2, 7), programming (5, 10)
Pete Murray: piano (6, 8), Hammond organ (6, 8), Wurlitzer (8), programming (1, 6, 9)
Ash Soan: drums (1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 10), percussion (8)
Earl Harvin: drums (2)
Jeff Rothschild: drums (3)
Ian Thomas: drums (9)
Tim Weidner: programming (1, 4, 5, 9-11)
Graham Archer: programming (1, 10)
Sam Farr: programming (5)
Magnus Johnstone: programming (11)
Jamie Muhoberac: guitar samples (2)
Thomas Carroll: cello (1, 4)
Fiona Winning: viola (1, 4)
Tom Norris: violin (4)
Metro Singers (choir master: Jenny O'Grady): choir (2, 8, 9, 11)

Orchestra leader: Perry Montague-Mason (1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10), Everton Nelson (5, 7, 11)

Orchestral arrangements and conductor: Murray (1, 6, 9), Elliot (2, 5, 7, 11), Simon Hale (3, 4, 10)
Orchestral contractor & fixer: Isobel Griffiths


Produced by Trevor Horn
Recording engineers: Tim Weidner (all), Gary Langan (1, 3-11), Steve MacMillan (3), Mark Lewis (3)
Engineer: Rob Orton (4)
Additional engineer: Smit (3)
Assistant engineers: Sam Farr (all), Graham Archer (all), Smit (1)
Pro Tools engineer: Lewis (1, 2, 4-11)
Assistant of string production: Johnstone (1, 3-11)
Recorded at Sarm West Studios, London; Angel Studios, London; and Sarm West Coast, Los Angeles (3 only)

Mixed by Weidner (1, 2, 4, 7-10), Orton (2, 5, 6, 11), Jeremy Wheatley (3), Steve Robson (3)
Assisted by Richard Edgeler (3)
Mastered by Tim Young


Tracks:
1. Requiem for a Tower [Clinton Mansell; arr. Murray] (1:59)
2. Palladio [Karl Jenkins; drums based on an idea by Jason Perry] (3:54)
3. Kashmir [Robert Plant/Jimmy Page/John Bonham; arr. Hale] (3:23)
4. Finding Beauty [Craig Armstrong; arr. Hale] (3:20)
5. Children [Roberto Concina; arr. Murray (bars 1-16)/Elliot (bars 17 to end)] (4:27)
6. Live and Let Die [Paul McCartney/Linda McCartney; arr. Hale] (2:54)
7. Chi Mai [Ennio Morricone; arr. by Elliot] (3:40)
8. Feeling Good [Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley; arr. Murray] (4:00)
9. Sarabande [Handel; arr. Murray] (2:37)
10. Clubbed to Death [Rob Dougan; arr. Hale] (4:54)
11. Adagio for Strings [Samuel Barber; arr. by Elliot] (4:16)


Notes (***): Horn's usual team for the year all appear, including three of The Producers (Soan, Lipson, Crème), Magnification producer Weidner, third Buggle Woolley and others (including Langan, Harvin, Muhoberac, Palmer, Murray, Orton, Griffiths).

This is the debut album from electronic string quartet Escala, who signed to Simon Cowell's Syco Music label after appearing on TV show Britain's Got Talent. The group came together doing session work for McFly and follow the familiar format of attractive young women doing classical crossover material (compare Bond, for example). The album made #2 in the UK and #13 in Ireland on release in May; US release followed in June. "Palladio", apparent on downloads along, made #39 in the UK singles chart and #49 in Ireland.

(1) is a version of Clint Mansell's "Lux Aeterna". (2) is by Karl Jenkins (Adiemus, ex-Soft Machine). (3) was originally by Led Zeppelin. (4) was originally by Paul McCartney & Wings for the James Bond film of the same name. (8) is a version of "I am Feeling Good" from the musical "The Roar of the Greasepaint—The Smell of the Crowd". A version of Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars" was planned, but does not appear. The album was recorded in late 2008/early 2009.

This is about as low-brow as "classical music" can get, but the arrangements are quite good and I rather like this album. (HP, 20 Feb 10)
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