John Metcalfe

Had some nice reviews for the album....

'This third album from New Zealand-born British composer and former Durutti Column and Duke Quartet member, is a woozy wedding of classical, electronica and ambient. String arranger by rock royalty appointment (Morrissey, The Pretenders, Blur) Metcalfe released his first album in 2004 and the fact this album is released by The Big Chill gives a good indication of where its heart lies. It's a gloriously schizophrenic collection, one minute lazily teasing out notes amid floaty atmospherics (opener Echo Valley), then jack-knifing into a 60's spy thriller set piece, heavy on brass and scratching (A Whole Day Nearer, Undertow). We're seven tracks in, at Nothing More True, before vocals arrive, and even then it's as a looped breathy syllable refracting back on itself. We don't get actual lyrics until an A&R-worrying ten tracks in, on You Call My Name, whose skittering beat mirror downbeat drum'n'bass'n'chillout duo Lamb. A wonderful wrong-footing of a music business built on the selling of vocalists as personalities'.

- Eamonn Forde, The Word

'It seems that every man and his dog wants to be a film composer nowadays. Very few actually know what it takes, let alone have the understanding, poise and ability to create that kind of emotive resonant sound. String specialist and ex-Durutti Cloumn member John Metcalfe however is one such musician'.

- DJ Magazine

'John Metcalfe made his name helping Vini Reilly to construct mesmerisingly ghostly guitar sculptures in the Durutti Column years ago, and has since established himself as one of the top string arrangers in Britain. His third album, though, owes at least as much to electronica as to classical.

One or two tracks engage in sub-Michael Nymanisms, but most of A Darker Sunset is that rare thing: ambient with an edge. Felt, Unseen deploys the repetition techniques of Steve Reich to create an awesomely lovely effect of twilight-after-rain, Parkstone is a dizzying trill of kaleidoscopic piano playing, and the stately beauty of The Shock of Recognition is only marred by an ill-advised synth line that wobbles along the track like a gaudy squiggle across a painting.

It would'e been easy for a man of Metcalfe's gifts to go down the more lucrative road of soporific chillout. Instead, this is imaginative and impressive'.

- Jonathan O'Brien, Sunday Business Post

Labels: A_Darker_Sunset, reviews

I am launching the new CD 'A Darker Sunset' at the 100 Club on Wednesday 24th September. DJ extraordinaire Dr. Alick Sethi of Electric Cafe and Retox Clinic fame will also be playing a set to intrigue your ears and warm your soul. The venue is London's famous 100 Club at 100 Oxford St.

We are on at 9pm with the full complement of Gangadeen, Friend, Richmond and Fuller plus a couple of guests. Tickets are only 8 quid.

Labels: A_Darker_Sunset, gigs

We will be launching the album at a show at London's 100 club on Wednesday 24th September. Support to be announced but we are hoping for something rather special. More on that TBA. www.the100club.co.uk

Labels: A_Darker_Sunset, gigs

Nitin Sawhney has just completed a brilliant remix of 'Waiting For Clarence' and this will be included on the album. I was hugely honoured the great man took the project on. More news of other remixes to follow.

Labels: A_Darker_Sunset, Nitin_Sawhney

I am at Peter Gabriel's Real World studios this week recording two pieces from 'A Darker Sunset' arranged for guitarist Tom Kerstens and his G+ ensemble. These tracks will be released along with other works I have composed for Tom on the Real World label. Release date TBA.

www.realworld.co.uk/

Labels: A_Darker_Sunset, Tom_Kerstens

I am very, very happy to announce that I have signed a deal to release 'A Darker Sunset' on Big Chill's excellent record label. With artists such as Mr. Scruff and Tom Middleton on the roster I am in mighty company. Thank you to all of you who have waited so patiently! Release is set for June and as soon as I have an exact date I will post it here.

Labels: A_Darker_Sunset, Big_Chill

Verity Sharp has been featuring the latest material on her brilliant show Late Junction and I have had fantastic response from lots of people are asking when the new album will be released which is great. So the situation is this. As you may know my last label went down following Universal's aquisition of Sanctuary who own Black Box. They were a great label putting out a wide range of interesting cutting edge stuff. So the search is on to find something new. I will post any news here straightaway. You will be the first to know!

Labels: A_Darker_Sunset, Black_Box