Acclaimed composer, sound-designer & film-maker Philip Clemo’s seventh studio album, Through the Wave of Blue, is a journey through a father’s response to profound adversity. His narratives traverse through fear, darkness and disorientation as his youngest daughter becomes seriously ill, culminating in the eventual light of joy as she recovers. From the haunting depths of “Stalker” and intensity of “Maze” to the serene “Rest” and celebratory “Dawn, Through the Wave of Blue offers an immersive experience that engages both viscerally and emotionally.
Each composition has its own sonic identity, inviting listeners to delve deep into the intricate dialogues and textures that unfold. Clemo blends complex drones & atmospherics with brass, woodwind, strings, guitar, piano, electronics and hypnotic rhythms to create mesmerising soundscapes that captivate the senses.
He collaborates with an outstanding group of musicians, including Arve Henriksen (trumpet), Theo Travis (soprano saxophone & flutes), Emily Burridge (cello), Simon Edwards (bass) and Martyn Barker (drums & percussion). Employing a process of ‘blind’ improvisation and meticulous editing, he crafts intricate soundscapes that seamlessly blend spiritual minimalism, electronica, experimental rock, Krautrock, and jazz fusion.
Through the Wave of Blue builds upon Clemo’s significant body of work, celebrated for its originality and hypnotic beauty, solidifying his reputation as a visionary in contemporary music. He performs globally with his Dream Maps multi-media project, blending live music and mesmerising imagery and his work has been shown at international film festivals, the V&A Museum, and the Eden Project. Clemo’s multi-sensory “Breath Project”, showcased in his TEDx & TED talks, delves into our connections with diverse environments. Supported by UK universities and media industry leaders, it disrupts familiarity, capturing novel perspectives through imagery and sound. Currently, his collaboration “From Silence Into Song” with Shout at Cancer explores music’s healing power, honouring the survivor trees of Hiroshima & Nagasaki through recordings made directly from the trees using specialist technology and imagery from infrared and thermal cameras.
Selected reviews:
“MESMERISING” **** The Times
“HYPNOTIC” The Guardian
“IMMERSIVE” Mojo
“STARTLINGLY ORIGINAL” **** The Observer
“TRANSCENDENT” **** BBC
“BEAUTIFUL… MESMERIZING” All Music Guide
