Groove Study by Yumi Hara
Groove Study is London-based Japanese composer/performer Yumi Hara's 2nd solo album which explores various aspects of rhythmic elements, such as the use of dance rhythm patterns played in time signatures differing from the originals, groove effects created by a contrasting combination of piano and drums, and the use of the piano as percussion instrument, employing inside playing techniques. It consists of her powerful, exhilarating, at the same time intricate compositions: ‘Orlyonok’ - Ekranoplan themed church organ epic featuring Chris Cutler’s grooviest ever drumming over frequently changing time signatures including West African rhythm in 10/8; ‘Once around the Earth’- early music inspired song in 13/8; ‘Hibernal Suite’- collection of funky tracks with devastating pipe organ sound you have never heard before; ‘The Wedding’- Reggae in 7/8; ‘Groove Study Giga Mix’ – elements of drum'n'bass, Brazilian samba band and Japanese children’s song are all played by pianos; plus ‘Fragment eines Klavierstücks’ - avant-rock treated Arnold Schoenberg's unfinished piano fragment (this track has previously appeared in 'Chris Cutler Box', but in different mix and mastering). Super-real, extremely clear, never-heard-anything-like-this-before pipe organ sound was carefully treated by Y.Utsunomia, ‘the mad scientist of sound’.
Tracklist
Credits
Personnel:
Yumi Hara: piano, pipe organ, clavichord, synthesizer, lever harp, voice, percussion
Chris Cutler: drums (Track 1, 2, 3, 8), percussion (Track 7)
Toshiaki Sudoh: bass (Track 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), drums (Track 7)
Tatsuya Yoshida: drums (Track 4, 5, 6)
Tim Hodgkinson: clarinet, bass clarinet (Track 2)
All music by Yumi Hara except Track 3 by Arnold Schoenberg (1909) arranged by Yumi Hara, used by permission of Belmont Music Publishers, Los Angeles
All text by Chris Cutler
Produced by Yumi Hara
Mastered by Y.Utsunomia
Recorded by Neil Martin, Jonathan Bell, Yumi Hara, Toshiaki Sudoh, Tatsuya Yoshida & Tim Hodgkinson
Mixed by Yumi Hara, except Track 7 by Yumi Hara, Toshiaki Sudoh & Y.Utsunomia
Artwork by Yumi Hara
Front cover by Yumi Hara, based on an image generated by DALL-E 2
Photo by Yumi Hara, Miyoko Toyoda, Planet Martine, Neil Martin
Supported by School of Arts and Creative Industries, University of East London
License
All rights reserved.Tags
Yumi Hara is London-based Japanese composer and performer (piano, voice, lever harp), and has become increasingly well known in the avant rock, Canterbury and RIO scene since releasing CD 'Dune' with Hugh Hopper in 2008. She has been the driving force of The Artaud Beats, you me & us, Jump for Joy!, THE WATTS and Lindsay Cooper Songbook / Half the Sky.