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)
Return to Home Page