Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere - Theta Five

The fifth album by this adventurous improvising rock group. This time round an expanded 8-piece version of the band improvised in the studio for two days in October 2019. These live recordings were extensively reworked and arranged over the following months with the addition of composed vocal and instrumental material.

The end result is the band's most expansive and adventurous work to date, with a greater emphasis on improvisation not seen since the band's first album - but the improvised elements are contrasted strongly with the rhythmic and lyrical passages where the voice and some tighter structures come to the fore.

The large ensemble harnesses a hybrid patchwork of electro-acoustic textures that brings to mind the spacey explorations of Alice Coltrane, Terry Riley, Tangerine Dream, Can et al. Choirs, choppy strings, throbbing beats, dreamy vocals and snarling bass rise and soar into bold themes creating a diverse and thrilling listen. - Sid Smith, Prog

Martin Archer - saxophones, clarinet, flute, organ, mellotron, software instruments, voices
Steve Dinsdale - drums, synths
Lorin Halsall - double bass, electric upright bass, electronics
Yvonna Magda - violin, electronics
Andy Peake - rhodes, synths
Walt Shaw - percussion, electronics
Jan Todd - vocals, voices, lyrics, harps, electronics, laptop, midi keys, bowed acoustic bass guitar (on Obsidian), glockenspiel, 12 string guitar, Korg wave drum, Idiopan
Terry Todd - electric bass guitar, acoustic 12 string guitar