To be released on 3 February 2023 - Pre-order from 18 January 2023
Unquiet Music Ltd releases a new concept album titled “MEMEmusic” and features Jon Poole of Lifesigns, Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson, Markus Reuter of Stick Men, Adrian Benavides of Earthdiver, Frédéric L’Epée of Yang among others.
“A pretty ‘out there’ album I played bass on earlier this year.” – Jon Poole
“Things that manage to reconcile my need to hear new things without losing my deepest roots” – Mixed by Stefano Castagna
“Warning: Save your psyche and stay away from this highly disorienting sequence of nerve-rewiring pieces.” - Trey Gunn (King Crimson, David Sylvian)
On February 3, 2023, ambitious multi-form music project Unquiet Music Ltd issues its second official album “MEMEmusic” on CD and download (via Bandcamp). The album is composed by JP Rossi, and produced by Markus Reuter (Stick Men, Reuter/Motzer/Grohowski, Anchor & Burden), crossing multiple boundaries between the electronic and the acoustic, between complexity and simplicity, between deep contemporary classical structures and textures and punchy art rock drive.
The first Unquiet Music Ltd album, 2020’s “In the Name of... (A Prayer for Our Times)” was an exploration of verticality and the arrow of time throughout a man’s life, or through mankind’s history. While in some respects “MEMEMusic” does act as a continuation of its predecessor, both in ideas and concept, it features a different approach and theme. Whereas “In the Name of...” was vertical, “MEMEmusic” is, in comparison, rather horizontal; and deals predominantly with communication and the notion of the individual. Reflecting on human interaction, and on how this has changed due to significant global changes and challenges over the past three years, it is firmly music for its time. The musical journey is divided in two parts, with the first half of the album being more industrial and electronic while the second turns towards live acoustic performances and to romantic and entertaining songs.
The central theme of “MEMEmusic” is the re-discovery of language - not the only tool with which we can connect to other people, but obviously one of the best - and to realize we are unique individuals precisely because differences exist. At the same time this profound but simple idea is delivered predominantly via music, which allows the listener to wander into their own universe without the weight of any message if they so wish. The cover and booklet also reflect the welcoming of diversity with their collaged images from photographs and paintings, plus AI techniques generated by Swiss multi-media artist Tobias Reber and comic book drawings and characters created by Denis Rodier (Marvel, DC, Milestone Media).
More accessible and reflective than “In the Name of…”, much of MEMEmusic is a conceptual effort based around instrumentals and some striking one-man choral composition. However, the album also diversifies from previous work in containing several stand-alone songs. These blend Rossi’s complex contemporary classical inspirations (fiercely building on and developing inspirations from Dmitri Shostakovich, Steve Reich and Philip Glass, and incorporating large-form ambient pieces and mediaeval-esque hocketing work) with influences from the boundary-crossing, thought-provoking art rock of David Bowie, King Crimson, David Sylvian and Stick Men. Also drifting through the mix are Cuban strings and trumpet, plus frequent and loving references to the languages and expression of the jazz tradition, with the spirits of Billie Holliday, George Gershwin, Ella Fitzgerald and Nelson Riddle finding their way into the string arrangements and some of the vocals. (See if you can also spot visitations from certain beloved jazz standards, adding their presence to the stew...)
While based around Rossi’s own vocal, keyboard and electronics work, “MEMEmusic” benefits from the participation of many talented international musicians. Continuing their work with the project alongside Rossi and Reuter are Frédéric L’Épée (Yang, Shylock, Philharmonie), Samira Brahmia, Raphaël Terreau, Khliff Miziallaoua, while the new album also welcomes fresh Unquiet Music contributors Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson), Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson, Stick Men), Jon Poole (Cardiacs, Lifesigns, The Dowling Poole and The Wildhearts), Adrian Benavides (Earthdiver), Troy Jones and Thommy Lowry.
Video presentation of the album here: https://youtu.be/6pPNB1JEqoE
Album tracks:
1. Meme 09:16
Words: JP Rossi, Georges Bataille. Music & Arrangements: JP Rossi
Voices: JP Rossi, Raphaël Terreau. Bass Key, Organ Synth, Soundscapes: JP Rossi. Voice & Bass Processing: Adrian Benavides
Music video: https://youtu.be/grzVu50Bla4
Song presentation video: https://youtu.be/ucam0GgdDpA
2. I Succumb 07:24
Words, Music: JP Rossi. Arrangements: JP Rossi, Adrian Benavides
Voices, Keys & Electronics: JP Rossi. Guitars: Adrian Benavides. U8 Touch Guitars ®: Markus Reuter. Electronic Drums, Traps & Buttons: Pat Mastelotto
Music video: https://youtu.be/9AtiO8iBi-E
Song presentation video: https://youtu.be/_z7vQOAOxo4
3. Towards The Edge 09:37
Words, Music & Arrangements: JP Rossi
Voices: JP Rossi, Raphaël Terreau, Khliff Miziallaoua. Keys & Electronics, Handclaps: JP Rossi. Guitars: Khliff Miziallaoua. U8 Touch Guitars ®: Markus Reuter. Bass: Jon Poole. Drums: Troy Jones
Song presentation video: https://youtu.be/_6suGPuNiwo
4. Lament 09:35
Music & Arrangements: JP Rossi
Voices (Diphonic): Raphaël Terreau. Voices Looping: JP Rossi.
Song presentation video: https://youtu.be/_6suGPuNiwo
5. Commuting Communion 08:56
Words, Music & Arrangements: JP Rossi
Voices: JP Rossi, Samira Brahmia. Guitars: Frédéric L’Épée. Keys & Electronics: JP Rossi. U8 Touch Guitars ®: Markus Reuter. Bass: Jon Poole. Drums: Troy Jones
Song presentation video: https://youtu.be/mR4ZfgnDqiU
6. Sometimes Love 09:52
Words, Music & Arrangements: JP Rossi. Strings Direction: Thommy Lowry
Voice, Keys, Soundscapes: JP Rossi. Violin: Amelia Febles Díaz, Lisbet Sevilla Brizuela, Camila Martel Pérez. Viola: Lizbet Sevilla Brizuela. Cello: Annette Antunez Guevara. Double Bass: Lino Piquero Bueno
Song presentation video: https://youtu.be/Gy8GErfR4bA
7. I Do Remember The Feeling 09:41
Words, Music & Arrangements: JP Rossi
Voices : JP Rossi, Samira Brahmia, Raphaël Terreau, Khliff Miziallaoua. Trumpets: Thommy Lowry. Violin: Amelia Febles Díaz, Lisbet Sevilla Brizuela. Viola: Lizbet Sevilla Brizuela. Cello: Annette Antunez Guevara. Double Bass: Lino Piquero Bueno. Keys & Electronics: JP Rossi. Bass: Jon Poole. Drums: Troy Jones
Music video: https://youtu.be/ypFlcHNo5-w
8. Nemo Point 06:22
Words, Music & Arrangements: JP Rossi
Voices : Samira Brahmia, JP Rossi, Raphaël Terreau. Keys, Electronics, Soundscapes: JP Rossi. Stick, Upright Electric Bass: Tony Levin. Drums: Troy Jones
Song presentation video: https://youtu.be/wKUxQUA34fE
9. Music (Is The Way Out) 03:35
Words, Music & Arrangements: JP Rossi
Voices : JP Rossi, Raphaël Terreau, Khliff Miziallaoua, Samira Brahmia. Fretless Bass: Jon Poole. Organ Synth: JP Rossi.
Song presentation video: https://youtu.be/HPwwOYwzbyM
Recorded at La Maison Rouge and musicians’ studios 2020-2022
Strings on “Sometimes Love”, “Strings Of Love”, “I Do Remember The Feeling”, and Trumpet on “I Do Remember The Feeling” recorded at studios DBega, La Havana, Cuba
Mixed at Studio Ritmo & Blu, Italy, by Stefano Castagna *
* Except “I Succumb” mixed in Austin, Texas, by Adrian Benavides
“I Succumb” stems mixing by Stefano Castagna
Strings of “Sometimes Love” pre-mixed by Khliff Miziallaoua
Mastered by Lee Fletcher
Produced by Markus Reuter for Unquiet Music Ltd
Digital collages based on images by Tobias Reber, Denis Rodier, JP Rossi
“I Succumb” and “Sometimes Love” use samples from freetousesounds
https://www.freetousesounds.com/
“Commuting Communion” and “Sometimes Love” use samples from “Flinch” by TUNER – with kind permission
https://multitrack.bandcamp.com/album/flinch-multitrack-session
Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnquietMusicLtd/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@unquietmusicltd8294/videos
Instagram @Unquietmusicltd
Bandcamp: https://unquietmusicltd.bandcamp.com/album/mememusic
Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: +1 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com
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