Acclaimed harp virtuoso and composer Andreas Vollenweider has released a double set titled Slow Flow & Dancer. On this project he grouped his music according to atmosphere and character: Slow Flow is a collection of pieces with a relaxed, flowing feel, while Dancer is full of movement and rhythm.
All 11 tracks were created between 2010 and 2021 in collaboration with British producer Andy Wright. The two were joined in their creative process by Vollenweider’s talented circle of friends, who developed the foundation for the songs: Walter Keiser (drums), Andi Pupato (percussion), Daniel Kueffer (bass clarinet), and Oliver Keller (guitars).
The music of Dancer also echoes Vollenweider’s connection with Africa. The South African vocal harmony band Africapella and singer Ayanda Nhlangothi represent this connection, which began back in the early 1980s. At that time, the black community of South Africa adopted Vollenweider’s music as their own folk music. During the bitter struggle for an end to the inhuman apartheid regime, Andreas’ songs were sung by the masses in the streets to express the strong will for peaceful change.
The London Session Orchestra, consisting of musicians from the Royal Symphonic Orchestra under the direction of James McWilliam, filled out the sound. British producer and arranger Peter Vettese is responsible for most of the orchestration. The brass elements were recorded by the experienced studio musicians of the London Horns.
The recordings took place at Andreas’ Lakeside Studios in Switzerland, as well as at SABC Studios in Johannesburg, South Africa, and finally at Abbey Road Studios in London.
Initially I went into shock Andreas and a drum machine that’s the end of his beautifully balanced percussion that flows out of his harp always organic! This sounds more contrived.
I will listen to the YouTube version’s a few times to see if that hesitancy to buy because of the machine element wears off.
Reminds me of my initial reaction to title track on In Praise of Dreams by J Garbarek it still grates and alienates especially with the richness of the viola!