Verhalen by QLab

The Covid-19 Pandemic has lead many people to new purpose and new discoveries. The Music Scene has been no stranger to this phenomenon either, and it was during this time that both Aidan Taylor and Oliver Lovekin became more interested in Improvised Ambient Music.

Both coming from diverse musical backgrounds, this collaboration is influenced by many areas of music, from Jazz, Classical, Ambient, Filmscore Music, Rock, Electronic Music, and even Indian Raga Music.

The title of this album, Verhalen (which is Dutch for "Stories"), is a nod to the many Musical Journeys this Album will take the listener on. It is a collection of stories, some light and calming, others more harsh and abrupt.

The Alpinist begins Bright and Airy, like the Peak of a Mountain that an Alpinist observes, and as the Album unfolds, it becomes more dark, dissonant, and edgy. The final piece, "Ad Lunam Civitas" or roughly translated as "To The Moonlight City", uses a Scale from the South Indian Carnatic system - the Indu Chakra, of the Melakarta Ragas. Indu means "Moon" , and is the first Chakra of the Melakarta Ragas. We named it To The Moonlight City (Ad Lunam Civitas) because we wanted to incorporate the Moon as a strong theme for this music's context, and also perfectly described the art on the album cover.

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