For Bandcamp Friday only... a 24 hour value-added time limited deal.
Receive a RANDOM COLOUR copy of future release Stylophonika (either Protein Pills Purple or Cosmic Swirl Pink & Blue) PLUS a SILVER colour vinyl variant of current release Spomenik by UNE (Mark Radcliffe and Paul Langley's Kraftwerkian electronic project).
** ONE BUNDLE PER PERSON PLEASE ***
Download code for Spomenik will be emailed separately.
Includes digital pre-order of STYLOPHONIKA.
You get 8 tracks now
(streaming via the free Bandcamp app
and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the
complete album the moment it’s released.
shipping out on or around January 28, 2022
8 remaining
Purchasable with gift card
£32GBPor more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Hand numbered limited edition Protein Pills Purple opaque variant of 'Stylophonika' by the Kingston University Stylophone Orchestra, as shown, referencing the lyrics of Bowie's Space Oddity.
Cover artwork and layout by Eric Adrian Lee. Photography by Marcus Clackson and Tom James.
Features removable Japanese style paper Obi strip, anti static inner sleeve and plastic over bag.
Catalogue number: SOOC LP9. This is the PURPLE OPAQUE 'PROTEIN PILLS' VARIANT.
Please note this is a preorder and will ship on release date or just before. ** A maximum of two of each vinyl variant per order please **
Includes digital pre-order of STYLOPHONIKA.
You get 8 tracks now
(streaming via the free Bandcamp app
and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the
complete album the moment it’s released.
shipping out on or around January 28, 2022
Purchasable with gift card
£18.99GBPor more
Record/Vinyl + Digital Album
Hand numbered limited edition Cosmic Swirl variant of 'Stylophonika' by the Kingston University Stylophone Orchestra, as shown.
Cover artwork and layout by Eric Adrian Lee. Photography by Marcus Clackson and Tom James.
Features removable Japanese style paper Obi strip, anti static inner sleeve and plastic over bag.
Catalogue number: SOOC LP9. This is the PINK + BLUE 'COSMIC SWIRL' VARIANT.
Please note this is a preorder and will ship on release date or just before. ** A maximum of two of each vinyl variant per order please **
Includes digital pre-order of STYLOPHONIKA.
You get 8 tracks now
(streaming via the free Bandcamp app
and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the
complete album the moment it’s released.
shipping out on or around January 28, 2022
Purchasable with gift card
£18.99GBP
Streaming + Download
Pre-order of STYLOPHONIKA. You get 8 tracks now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released.
From stylus to stardust: Evolution of the Kingston University Stylophone Orchestra
An experiment in collective noise making, the Kingston University Stylophone Orchestra was created by Dr Leah Kardos in early 2019.
Through legendary producer Tony Visconti, Leah was introduced to Stylophone manufacturer Dubreq, who donated a collection of new and vintage instruments to Visconti Studio's analogue instrument archive, based at the University. At the sight of a car boot full of Stylophones, Leah found herself wondering aloud if a musical ensemble using the unique electronic instruments might be possible.
A notice went up, and a handful of intrepid students showed up to a first rehearsal.
Though the musical palette of the Stylophone initially appeared limited, its restrictions quickly inspired creativity and ingenuity.
With the orchestra made up of current and ex students, plus staff from across the University, the instantly recognisable sound of the original Stylophone has been augmented by the full range of Dubreq instruments, mixed in with Theremin, Omnichord and Volca sequencers, as well as the members’ collective voices.
The global pandemic put a stop to the group’s regular rehearsal schedule in 2020-21. So, with all upcoming performances cancelled, it was decided to turn the orchestra’s attention towards a collaborative production project – something that everyone could work on remotely, as both distraction and creative outlet. Once campus began to open up again in March 2021, the orchestra returned to Visconti Studio to record the finishing touches for this debut album release.
Paying homage to the classics of electronica from the past half century, it can be argued that Vangelis, Carlos, Jarre and Eno, are, in their own way, the equivalent of Beethoven, Bach, Mozart and Barber before them. But the group also wanted to collaborate on original compositions, exploring the unique range of musical expressions that only a Stylophone orchestra can make. Reacting to the passing of ambient music legend Harold Budd in December 2020, the orchestra created its tribute ‘Olancha Farewell’, blending voices and synthesisers within the long acoustics and plate reverbs of Visconti Studio – and re-amplifying the music through the resonant soundboards of the studio’s concert grand pianos – to create something fittingly elegiac.
The Kingston University Stylophone Orchestra is believed to be the only ensemble of its kind in the world.
credits
releases January 28, 2022
Musical director: Leah Kardos
All tracks produced by Leah Kardos, except Space Oddity, produced by Tony Visconti
Recorded remotely and at Visconti Studio, Kingston University
Mixed by Cian Ryan-Morgan
Vinyl mastering by Antony Ryan
Orchestra Players:
Current members:
Ershad Alamgir
Louis Bartell
Harry Green
Leah Kardos
Sydney Kaster
George Reid
Cian Ryan-Morgan
Arte Spyropoulou
Estelle Taylor-Noel
Isabella van Elferen
Zuzanna Wężyk
Plus past members who also feature on the album:
Jess Aslan
Mari Dangerfield
Jack Holland
Billy Wilson
Song Credits:
‘Akoustiki’
Composed by Zuzanna Wężyk
Arranged by Leah Kardos
Featuring lead vocals by Arte Spyropoulou
‘Brundle Beat’
Composed and arranged by Leah Kardos
‘Oxygene 4’
Composed by Jean-Michel Jarre
Arranged by Leah Kardos
‘Blade Runner End Titles’
Composed by Vangelis
Arranged by Leah Kardos
‘Music For The Funeral March & Procession Of Queen Mary’
Composed by Henry Purcell
Arranged by Leah Kardos
Featuring solo Stylophone performance by Zuzanna Wężyk. Moog sound design by George Reid.
‘Olancha Goodbye (For Harold Budd)’
Composed and arranged by Leah Kardos
Featuring Arte Spyropoulou, Isabella van Elferen, Ershad Alamgir, Louis Bartell, Harry Green and Leah Kardos on vocals. Also featuring Louis Bartell on Omnichord.
‘Space Oddity’
Composed by David Bowie
Arranged by Leah Kardos
Produced by Tony Visconti
Featuring Ershad Alamgir and Jack Holland on lead vocals. Also featuring Billy Wilson on Omnichord.
‘An Ending (Ascent)’
Composed by Brian Eno
Arranged by Leah Kardos
As a Town Planner often working around the Runcorn area in 2021, this resonates. It's amazing - special music which both relaxes and has intensity/focus at the same time. Perfect.
Favourite Track: Shopping City dancrane75
REALLY wish I'd subscribed sooner to be able to enjoy this on vinyl! Curious the artist cited 12 Monkeys and not La Jetee as one of the key inspirations. For me, this has a more somber, introspective and timeless feel more akin to La Jetee than 12 Monkeys (though I also am a big fan of Terry Gilliam). Gorgeous music and you get the bonus of a list of excellent movies to enjoy (another note to the artist: Time Crimes is also a good film to watch). Now to somehow procure a vinyl copy... Anthony Childs
Featuring grand organ, Moog, Buchla, and live percussion, Ehsan Gelsi's opus explores the possibilities of analogue electronics. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 25, 2021
Gloriously primal music that recalls the glory days of early ’80s industrial, icy drum machines clashing with searing synths. Bandcamp New & Notable Jul 16, 2021
