Orchid-Star 'Faster Reimagined' Review

 

Artist:

Orchid-Star

Title:

Faster Reimagined

Label:

Pink Hampster

Released:

4^th December 2020

Although I’ve always been partial to Orchid-Star both live and recorded, It’s been a while since I played the Faster CD. Now although I can see the cover has had a make over that will catch the eye, it’s the content that counts. So without further ado I’ll address the results of pressing play.

The album opens with the slow version of ‘Brighter’, which begins in an ethereal fashion before flickering as if it’s about to take off, then settles into a funky world fusion with melodic keys and vocals. Whilst band percussionist and DJ Sean Spindrift takes ‘Shouty One’ into the realms of the uplifting progressive psy-trance that he’s know for. Whilst Squazoid flirts with the tempos of ‘A Better Ride’, at times letting the vocals play out and at others applying plenty of fx and squelch.

The dnb mix of ‘Surya’ is a lovely piece of Asian electronica that centres around the vocals, a perfect tune for a stomp in the sun. In comparison the Trancient Dream mix of ‘Puja’ is more of light and chilled tribal plodder. The atmosphere changes once again with Pete Ardon and Sand-Ra’s mix of ‘Lotus Bloom’, which is on the whole a straight up world music track. However, that’s not to say it hasn’t got some interesting and unique nuances about it. The mood then switches again as Sean re-appears adding some punch to the melodic, with another progressive psy take on ‘Barefoot’.

After all these twists and turns of style the last three settle somewhat of an Orchid-Star formula with the Moai System remix of ‘Prchla, a cocktail of wonderful vocals, reggae riddims and gypsy violin. I could very well use the same description for the first section of the live version of ‘Orchid-Ska’, but as the title promises it picks up the pace with a unique ska fusion. Whilst the finale Inne’s Thankyou mix of ‘Dans La’ is somewhat slower with a touch of guitar.

To summarise this collection with it's fresh lick of paint, displays both the uniqueness and diversity that Orchid-Star offers. I've got a few personal faviourites in here and they may well differ from yours. However, if you're unfamiliar with the band why not dive in and have a listen and keep your eyes peeled on the circuit when the festivals return.

Reviewed by Woodzee

Links

http://www.orchidstar.info/

https://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/pik/index.html

Guest Mix - Pete Ardron (Orchid-Star)

I first came across Orchid-Star when Pete messaged me on MySpace to say he thought I may like their music, he wasn’t wrong I was instantly hooked on "Wildflower" and it seemed like an eon until it was finally released.

Now although Orchid-Star is essentially a band there were two other key elements that appealed to me the stunning vocals of Samanta Ray (an Australian opera singer of Indian descent) and the unique keyboard style which probably reflects Pete’s classical training. I’ve also caught live performances at Off-World festival and InSpiral Lounge and spoken to members of the band who seem a thoroughly friendly bunch.

I’ve not explored Pete’s entire back catalogue but I did purchase “Hanging On Perfumed Air” an album containing tracks written specifically for the parachute at Whirl-Y-Gig it’s not something I’ve used in mixes as the tracks run into one another setting a theme throughout the album which is bliss to listen to from time to time.

I recently reviewed Pete and Samanta’s “Interuterion” where Pete experiments and creates the album solely utilising Samanta’s voice (I'd instantly and wrongly assumed these pieces contained synthesizers) however, the album is aimed at meditation and relaxation while this mix (containing tracks and re-mixes of Pete’s, Orchid-Star and other projects including some unreleased tracks*) is far more uplifting and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Sun Is Shining Guest Mix - Pete Ardron (Orchid-Star) by Sun Is Shining on Mixcloud

*Not only has Pete graciously submitted this fantastic mix he has also taken the time to provide a timed track listing with release information and labels.

0:00 Pete Ardron and Samantha Ray - Interuterion - Serenity (from Interuterion, Pink Hampster 2012)
0:50 Orchid-Star - Butterflies (from Birth, Liquid Sound 2008)
8:55 Orchid-Star - Lotus Bloom (SandRa & Pete Ardron remix) (to be released this month, Pink Hampster)
15:22 Pete Ardron and Samantha Ray - Vissi D'Arte (Puccini) (as yet unnamed project, gigged at Waveform 2012 but no completion/release date yet)
19:58 Pete Ardron - Vignette (unreleased, from next solo album (if and when it happens!), 2012)
25:05 Dorothee Munyaneza - Inzozi (Pete Ardron remix) (2009, unreleased, hopefully to eventually to be turned into a full album project)
30:50 Orchid-Star - Wildflower (Polynectar Remix - Squazoid) (2013)
38:12 Pete Ardron - Qawwali Roll (from Inside the Voice Inside, Pink Hampster 2002, Cyberset, 2009)
45:02 Pete Ardron - Angel (unreleased, from next solo album - 2005, yeah this one's taking a while!)
51:00 Terra Nine - Whisper (Pete Ardron remix) (from Stream of Consciousness, Tempest 2009)
57:04 N'Faly Kouyate's Change - untitled track (album planned to be released in Oct '13)
1:01:19 Trancient Dreams - Forbidden Sea (Pete Ardron remix) (2012)
1:09:03 Afro Celt Sound System - Hypnotica (Pete Ardron remix) (2010)
1:18:09 Dorothee Munyaneza - Iminsi (Pete Ardron remix) (released on DVD version of Dorothee Munyaneza - Dorothee Munyaneza, Luminary Records 2009)
1:23:39 Teresa Gabriel - Wings of the Angel (unreleased in this form, recorded at my place, 2005, only responsible for engineering and refusing to let her do anything other than live takes - still one of my 2 all time favourite acoustic recordings, the other also from the same afternoon)
1:28:04 Pete Ardron and Samantha Ray - Interuterion - Serenity 

Links

www.peteardron.com

www.orchidstar.info

www.pinkhampster.com

Pete Ardron & Samantha Ray - Interuterion Review

Artist: Pete Ardron & Samantha Ray


Title: Interuterion


Label: Pink Hampster Recordings


Release Date: December 2012

I was more than slightly intrigued to listen to this album. Samanta’s vocals within Orchid-Star are stunning and the power of her voice for me is most apparent in the track “Passion” this release takes you to the other side of the pendulum and the titles couldn’t be more apt.

Serenity originally produced in 2003 it was used in 2005 as the musical core to Simon Rogers' exhibition Water Feature and in 2010 as the soundtrack to Collision Course by Carmelo Musca of CM Films and Garry Stewart of the Australian Dance Theatre.

Reverie Uses recordings from sessions for both Orchid-Star and Sam and Pete's opera-fusion project (out in 2013) Reverie focuses more on Sam's voice as both a richly varied solo instrument and a phenomenal sound-source to manipulate.

Pete compares the two pieces to a lake and a river the first a static environment and the second a flowing journey. For me both tracks achieve their goal in the sense that setting aside half an hour to listen to either track completely relaxed me before the end. I can only imagine this is what it feels like to have a half hour session in a floatation tank.

Musically (and indeed vocally) I enjoyed“Reverie” more. For me this track "seemed" to hold more of a human element, while in fact the whole composition of this release was made utilising only the human voice. Exploring and experimenting with the beautiful tones and heavenly choral aspects of Samanta’s voice Pete creates two tracks that could easily be confused for a choral and synthetic fusion

My verdict if you’re looking to escape the beats and listen to something more meditative and healing for the body and mind you can’t go wrong here it’s a fantastic collaboration by two amazingly talented artists.

Link

http://pinkhampster.com/html/artistpage.php?artist=Pete%20Ardron%20and%20Samantha%20Ray

Review by Woodzee