'Invisible World' is the 8th studio album from acclaimed artists SASO to be released on digital platforms
on 24th February 2024.
'Invisible World' marks a new chapter where the synthesizer sound of the last album has been replaced with the more organic, acoustic sound of brass and woodwind instruments, felt piano and classical guitar.
The inspiration for 'Invisible World' comes from a sense of nostalgia and romanticism of a bygone era - a kind of arcadian tranquility. The music acts as a sanctuary from urban life, turning to the organic pulse of nature as an antidote. The compositions were informed by the palette of instruments and resulted in a change of colour to create quiet pastoral scenes and fragile instrumentals.
All of SASO’s previous work has seamlessly coalesced into one sound on this album.
A collective of orchestral musicians were invited to play the arrangements live and to add colour and warmth.
"Something happens in a room when there are musicians playing live. The music comes together in the air.” (Ben)
"I arranged the tracks around feel and instinct. The sound world of clarinets and horns was new and allowed me to experiment with no restrictions on how songs should be structured. The performance aspect of just playing live was really important” (Jim)
The result is a meditative work, which is quiet and pastoral at times and unfolds gently over 14 tracks. The aim is to draw the listener in, to immerse in a warm and harmonious sound world - for silences and anchoring in the imagery of landscapes and nature.
Special mention to James Smith for playing guitar on ‘Murmur', ‘Hills' and ‘Solstice' and for helping to workshop early ideas. Francesco Turrisi for co-composing and playing una corda piano on 'A Path Will Rise’.
MUSIC WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY LAWLER / RAWLINS ©2024.
(TRACK 7 BY LAWLER / RAWLINS / TURRISI)
FEATURING JAMES SMYTH AND FRANCESCO TURRISI.
ARRANGEMENTS BY JIM LAWLER / CONDUCTED BY RONAN GRANT
MUSICIANS:
VALENTINE LAPORTE - FLUTE / BEN O’BRIEN - CLARINET
IAN DAKIN - FRENCH HORN / CONOR O’RIORDAN - TUBA
JONATHAN CLIFFORD - TROMBONE / SEAN MOLLOY - TRUMPET
FIONA GRYSON - HARP / HAZEL LATTIMORE - CELLO
JOE CSIBI - DOUBLE BASS / DAVIDE LA ROSA - GUITAR
YASMIN O'REILLY - MEZZO SOPRANO / FIONN O'hALMHAIN - BASS
RECORDED AND PRODUCED BY BEN RAWLINS
ASSISTANT ENGINEER - LOMAN SHERLOCK
THIS ALBUM WAS RECORDED IN CHURCHTOWN, DUBLIN AND BLACK MOUNTAIN STUDIOS, CO. LOUTH
MIXED AND MASTERED AT THE JERICHO MILE BY BEN RAWLINS
ARTWORK: WWW.THISAREREDMANAKA.COM
SASO are a music duo formed in Dublin, Ireland in 2000 by Jim Lawler (composer / multi instrumentalist) and Grammy Award Winner Ben Rawlins (producer / recording engineer) who share a unique artistic relationship as a writer and producer partnership.
Although relatively unknown in their home country, SASO are one of the most critically acclaimed bands to come out of Ireland, establishing a dedicated fanbase in Ireland, Europe and the USA. Their debut album ‘Big Group Hug’ was named Album of the Week in The Sunday Times, and received 4 star reviews in Q Magazine, Muzik, Rock Sound, The Irish Times, The Irish Independent, Hot Press Magazine, The Event Guide and many others. SASO have released seven studio albums to date.
In 2021, US label Sun Sea Sky Productions released their 7th studio album 'Deep Code' on limited red 12" vinyl.
“The music is as beautiful as the aching drift of Talk Talk's last incarnation” -4/5 Q Magazine, UK
Their sound has evolved over the years and the duo have now abandoned formal structure letting the music unfold naturally, using silence and room ambience as instruments in themselves. Replacing guitars and drums with the more spatial sounds of an upright piano and electronics, their recent compositions excel in their tranquility, nestling through contemplative moments and the spaces in between sounds. The music has soft tones, dark electronics and an unrushed pace which offer a slow-motion perspective on fast-forward culture.
“You could be listening to Talk Talk, or possibly Radiohead’s next album. Outstanding”
3/3 – Sunday Times, UK (Record of the week)
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The elegance of SASO's music is complemented by equally elegant sleeve artwork, designed by Dublin based graphic designer Redman AKA. Saso have an intuitive approach with visual art through their sleeve artwork, video, photography and website.
CONTACT / TEN SUMMONERS TALES AT: SASOBAND@PROTONMAIL.COM
CONTACT / TEN SUMMONERS TALES AT:
SASOBAND@PROTONMAIL.COM
