MUSIC FOR THE HOME
BAY 15CD - Music For The Home (BAY 15CD)
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Music For The Home by Rob Ellis
Formats: CD (BAY 15CD) Digital (BAY 15E)
Release Date: 27 November 2000

Rob Ellis is best known by proxy, for his collaborations. He's worked with PJ Harvey since her first album, Dry, and co-produced Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea. His own outfit Spleen released two splendidly sprawling albums for the Swarfinger label and he has played percussion for much acclaimed uneasy-pop auteurs, Laika. Music For The Home demonstrates another, previously hidden side to his talent.

Subtitled "Instrumental, Mechanical & Electronic Music 1994-1999", Music For The Home is the result of many years of personal fascination with contemporary classical music, jazz and electronica. Ellis is a self-taught pianist, and the album started life as a piano solo album, gradually evolving into something more orchestrated, taking in music boxes and other wind-up instruments, as well as cello and classical guitar. The album has more in common with the work of composers like Messaien, Reich and Steve Martland than it does with any of Ellis' previous work. Music For The Home is not 'played' as such, rather it comprises a suite of music pieced together from fragments and layers of recordings made over several years. Ellis' composing and arranging, though unconventional here, provide a flow and rhythm that gives the album cohesive force.

The album has finally found a surprisingly natural home at The Leaf Label. In many ways, these recordings are not actually that far removed from other Leaf releases - a blend of the organic and synthetic, live instrumentation mediated by digital trickery. Two movements from 'Symphonies of wind-up instruments' appeared on Invisible Soundtracks: Macro 3 CD.

Scott Walker has already used a loop taken from 'Arctic Crossing' as the backing track on his contribution to Ute Lemper's recent album. Brian Eno has also given Music For The Home a personal endorsement.


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TRACKS
1. Out Of It
2. 15 / 11 / 95 - Six Pieces For Fake Instruments: i) At 2 bpm
3. 15 / 11 / 95 - Six Pieces For Fake Instruments: ii) Jerky
4. 15 / 11 / 95 - Six Pieces For Fake Instruments: iii) Fast Forward
5. 15 / 11 / 95 - Six Pieces For Fake Instruments: iv) Dreaming
6. 15 / 11 / 95 - Six Pieces For Fake Instruments: v) Round
7. 15 / 11 / 95 - Six Pieces For Fake Instruments: vi) Starry Sky
8. American Dream For Three Pianos
9. COPY!
10. Music For The Home No.1 - "After Dinner I Accompanied My Wife In A Little Entertainment For Our Guests..."
11. Music For The Home No.2 - Bedtime Story -"Three Little Pigs": i) Hog The Impaler
12. Music For The Home No.2 - Bedtime Story -"Three Little Pigs": ii) Pinky The Dreamer
13. Music For The Home No.2 - Bedtime Story -"Three Little Pigs": iii) Squealer The Con
14. Music For The Home No.3 - Unreasonable Behaviour In The Nursery
15. Hang-up No.3
16. Toward Dust Spiral Section
17. Symphonies Of Wind-up Instruments (Three Movements For Imaginary Music Boxes): i) Lilliput 2000
18. Symphonies Of Wind-up Instruments (Three Movements For Imaginary Music Boxes): ii) Chrondine
19. Symphonies Of Wind-up Instruments (Three Movements For Imaginary Music Boxes): iii) Parade In Your Palm
20. Arctic Crossing
21. Cedez

REVIEWS
All Music Guide