Our 17th One Day Band features a collaboration between renowned solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie and electronic musician Roly Porter.

The session took place in the summer of 2018 at Holy Mountain studios in Hackney, East London, to which Evelyn transported a selection of instruments from her vast personal percussion collection. Timpani drums, a Waterphone, small mechanical music boxes, Tibetan Singing Bowls, Cymbals and a number of smaller instruments were utilised throughout the session.

A decision was made between Evelyn and Roly to initially capture a series of improvisations by Evelyn. Once the working method was established the two spent the time together discussing and evolving the project as they went, moving from one instrument to the next as Evelyn performed a variety of spontaneous pieces. Sometimes melodic rhythmical streams, whilst at other times focusing on the generation of noises and droned notes.

The compositions range tonally from droned patience, cloaked in subtlty to cacophonous frenetic expression and abrasive crackling feedback. The tracks all possess a quality of movement, evolving with elemental ferocity. Thoughtful melodic kalimba give way to pounding timpani thuds and manic metallic tapping. Ominous sounds reach out from the distance, shrouded to then lurch into focus with increasing intensity.

Later during the session Roly rerecorded segments of Evelyn’s playing. Amplified through guitar amps via a chain of distortion effects pedals, bowed cymbals were transformed into a wailing tsunami of sonic crunch.

In the following months Roly processed and arranged the improvisations into a textured and dynamic sound world of which he is know for in both his recent solo LPs and his past work as a member of Vex’d.