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Spindle Ensemble are an experimental instrumental quartet from Bristol’s music collective Bloom. They perform original compositions by Daniel Inzani that hover cinematically somewhere between jazz, folk and classical idioms, taking inspiration from artists such as Moondog, Eric Satie, Charles Mingus and Mulatu Astatke. They will be releasing their debut album, Bea, as a luxury gatefold vinyl edition via new Frome based label Adderwell Music in late 2017. The striking cover art for Bea was created by Australian illustrator Anna Higgie.

Daniel’s compositions combine classical and jazz harmonic structures with strong mathematical concepts. Having studied Mathematics at the University of Bath he continues to explore stochastic techniques of rhythm and harmony favoured by many of the great modern composers including Reich and Xenakis. But where the music of Spindle Ensemble differs from these greats is that it also has a strong emotional melodicism, more connected to post romantics such as Satie and Debussy. The performances give the pieces a dynamic spontaneity and the arrangements leave space for group improvisation, allowing the percussion to open up into some glorious free playing, akin to the virtuosic expressionism of the greats such as Frank Zappa’s favoured tuned percussionist Ruth Underwood. The varied use of the string section allows the ensemble to swap musical roles and vary the feel and texture of their sound, creating cinematic narratives similar to other contemporary soundtrack orientated bands such as Tosca Tango, Basquiat Strings and Tin Hat Trio. Some of the tonalities and melodies are intended to replicate the expressive inflection of the human voice, often inspired by nature as many of them started out as sketches on Celtic harp in the woodlands near Daniel’s house in Bristol. This mixture of musical innovation, pastoral aspiration and deft musicianship combine to create a beguiling and cerebral whole.

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Top Picture credit: Paul Blakemore