Nick Schofield – Ambient Ensemble (Backward Music, 2024)
Gatineau, Quebec composer and synthesizer virtuoso, Nick Schofield, unveiled the mesmerizing “Picture Perfect” video, heralding the release of his new album, Ambient Ensemble. This album traverses a diverse landscape of musical genres, embracing ambient, electronic, neoclassical, avant-garde, experimental, and cinematic elements.
Embarking on a new artistic journey, Schofield ventures beyond his solo endeavors, presenting an evolution of his creativity. The album intricately weaves together layers of tape-spun piano, synthesizers, and a compact chamber ensemble, crafting a spellbinding auditory voyage. Drawing inspiration from luminaries like Joanna Brouk, Schofield’s record radiates with an energetic and whimsical aura, distinct from conventional ambient compositions.
“Picture Perfect,” in particular, epitomizes this buoyant spirit, characterized by pulsating piano motifs, glistening synths, and sweeping string arrangements recorded within the resonant confines of a church. The piece explores the theme of envisioning perfection amidst the allure of the present moment.
Ambient Ensemble signifies a pivotal juncture in Schofield’s musical career, transitioning from solitary synthesizer explorations to collaborative endeavors with acoustic instrumentation and a cadre of talented musicians. Drawing from the inspiration of his acclaimed Ambient Ensemble concert series in Montreal, the album encapsulates the spontaneity and allure of those live performances.
Within the album’s ethereal compositions, one discovers distant piano melodies, vintage synthesizer textures, and ethereal orchestral flourishes enveloped in expansive natural reverb. The ensemble, includes a chamber group featuring double bass, fretless electric bass, violin, clarinet, and vocals.
Schofield’s creative process unfolds through patient piano improvisations recorded amidst the tranquil ambiance of a Canadian winter night within the sacred confines of a church. These recordings are subsequently manipulated, slowed down, and layered with classic synthesizer tones. Supported by funding from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ambient Ensemble coalesced, featuring an assembly of gifted musicians hailing from the vibrant Gatineau/Ottawa music scene.
Musicians: Nick Schofield on piano, Roland Juno 6, Moog; Philippe Charbonneau on fretless bass, double bass; Yolande Laroche on vocals, clarinet; and Mika Posen on violin
Buy Ambient Ensemble.