Stop Motion Orchestra - Lightworks (2018)

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Stop Motion Orchestra - Lightworks (2018)

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itting squarely in the Rock In Opposition mold, Stop Motion Orchestra is an Austin, Texas-based instrumental chamber rock band orchestrated with sax, violin, guitar, synth-bass, drums, here in their second album bringing a bright and melodic force that reminds of Hamster Theatre, Debile Menthol or L'Ensemble Raye; sophisticated, charming and knowledgeable music.

"Stop Motion Orchestra return with a new lineup and a more organic, ensemble effort which draws inspiration from Henry Cow, Magma, Haniwa-Chan and Picchio dal Pozzo, as well as traditional music from Eastern Europe and South Asia. Five intricate, through composed pieces that are also playful and fun."-Knock 'Em Dead/Megaphone

Stop Motion Orchestra is an Austin, TX based instrumental art rock group orchestrated with sax, violin, guitar, synth-bass, drums. They reference a great list of RIO and advanced improvisers as their influences: Henry Cow, Cardiacs, Anthony Braxton, Thinking Plague, Ivo Papasov, L'Ensemble Raye, Debile Menthol, Henry Threadgill, Albert Marcoeur, Invincible Czars, Opposite Day, Brown Whornet."-Megaphone/Knock 'Em Dea

Lightworks is a long awaited sophomore album by the Austin, TX based instrumental prog-fusion group Stop Motion Orchestra which is directed by composer, multi-instrumentalist and sound-producer Mohadev. Released as digipak-CD and 12" vinyl by the alliance of Knock'em Dead and Megaphone Records, the album includes 5 instrumental compositions clocking in at 30 minutes.

Lightworks was performed and recorded by a renewed line-up: founders Mohadev (guitars, synths, piano), Alden Doyle (violin) and Henna Chou (cello, keyboards) cooperate now with Leila Henley (saxophones, vocals), Sam Arnold (bass, acoustic guitar, banjitar) and Charlie Duncan (drums, percussion). Their music can be described as modern melodic Instrumental that blends together multiple Art-Prog-Rock, World-Fusion, Chamber, Contemporary Classical, and Soundtrack-Cinematic influences in a very own way. Oh yes, it also can be labeled as RIO/Avant-Prog. But it needs to be said, that Stop Motion Orchestra are at the light and positive end of Avant-Prog spectrum. So, the album title reflects the essence of music pretty well. It's intricate, dense, sophisticated, polyrhythmic and polymorphic work, but never abrasive, abrupt, provocative, or epatage. And it's very illustrative and picturesque? In fact, when you plunge into the fairytale and phantasmagoric world of Lightworks you'll forget how complex the music is, you'll simply get caught by the expressiveness of created images and visions. In other words, Stop Motion Orchestra are fantastic storytellers, and their stories (or music pictures) are always pleasant, captivating, and enjoyable. And they definitely know how to deliver their message to a listener without any words being said or sung. The female voicing you can hear in "Way to Sarov" is used as just another instrumental tool in a rich pictorial palette of the sextet.

To sum up, Lightworks by Stop Motion Orchestra is nothing short to a masterpiece which cannot be described properly in words. So, those who enjoy intricate, intellectual, yet entertaining cross-genre instrumental music should try the album for sure. Let me say my "Bravos" to this incredible ensemble! P.S. Of special note is the top-notch sound quality of the CD-edition. The general audio panorama is much better (to my taste) that of the digital version. Whatever it is, huge respect to Mohadev who is both recording and mixing engineer-producer of Lightworks."-Raigor, ProgArchives