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Erland Cooper

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Erland Cooper
Background information
Birth nameGawain Erland Cooper
BornOrkney, Scotland[1]
GenresAlternative, classical, electronica, ambient
Occupationscomposer, producer
InstrumentsPiano, guitar, vocals, electronics
Years active2010–present
LabelsDecca Records, Universal Music
WebsiteErlandCooper.com

Gawain Erland Cooper is a Scottish composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Cited as "one of the most unique, consistently engaging composers of his generation",[2] he was born and raised in Stromness, Orkney. As an interdisciplinary artist, he has released five acclaimed studio albums, with five additional companion albums and multiple EPs, including a trilogy of work inspired by his childhood home, as well as themes of nature,[3] people, place and time. His work combines field recordings with classical orchestration and contemporary electronic elements.[4] Cooper also works across mixed media projects including installation art,[5] theatre[6] and film. He is a recipient of a Royal Television Society award and his music is played frequently on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 6 Music as well as featured on various TV network productions.

He is widely known for burying the only existing copy of the master magnetic tape of his first classical album, a violin concerto in Orkney, deleting all digital files and leaving only a treasure hunt of clues for fans and his record label alike to search for it.[7] He buried the tape in early spring 2021 and intended to retrieve and release it in 2024.[8] After a year and half in the soil, the tape was found in September 2022 by two amateur sleuths.[9] It dried out on public display in record shops in Scotland for another year and a half and was released and premiered exactly as it sounds from the earth. The record became the first planted number 1 classical album, in collaboration with nature, topping the UK official charts in 2024.

He is credited by Mojo Magazine with exploring the concept of psychogeography, connecting identity, memory, and place through music, words and cinematography. He explores these themes further by partnering with well-known artists and writers in his work and live shows.

Music career

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Erland and the Carnival

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Main article: Erland and the Carnival

In 2009, Cooper co-founded the band Erland and the Carnival in London with multi-instrumentalist Simon Tong.[1]

The Magnetic North

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Main article: The Magnetic North

In 2011 Cooper co-founded the British shoegaze band The Magnetic North with Simon Tong and singer, composer and orchestral arranger Hannah Peel.[10] Formed in London, they released their debut album, Orkney: Symphony of the Magnetic North on 6 May 2012.[10][11] Cooper said that the inspiration for the album came from an appearance of long dead Betty Corrigall in one of his dreams, insisting that he wrote an album about his home.[12] This theme is currently being developed into a stage production.

Solo career

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Cooper released his debut solo album Solan Goose, heavily influenced by native Orcadian birds, on 23 March 2018. The album is the first of a triptych that reflects on the natural world surrounding Orkney, with its tracks each taking their titles from Orcadian dialect words for birds.[4]

Cooper's second album in the triptych, Sule Skerry, was released on 24 May 2019 on Phases. [13] The album was included on the Scottish Album of The Year shortlist for 2020. [14]

In 2022, Cooper provided a soundtrack, Music For Growing Flowers, to the Superbloom wildflower meadow installation within the moat of the Tower of London.[15] The music has also been released as an album and a score.

Writing credits

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Cooper is known for his contemporary arrangements of traditional Scottish and English folk songs, including most notably "Love Is a Killing Thing" and "The Derby Ram" collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams. He has also written for established artists, such as Paul Weller.[16]

Discography

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With Erland & the Carnival

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Main article: Erland and the Carnival § Discography
Studio albums

With Magnetic North

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Studio albums
  • 2012: Orkney: Symphony of the Magnetic North
  • 2016: Prospect of Skelmersdale

As a solo artist

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Studio albums
  • 2018: Solan Goose
  • 2019: Sule Skerry
  • 2020: Hether Blether
  • 2023: Folded Landscapes
  • 2024: Carve the Runes Then Be Content With Silence
Companion albums
EPs
  • 2018: Nightflight
  • 2020: Eynhallow
  • 2021: Never Pass Into Nothingness
  • 2021: Egilsay
  • 2021: The Island 1961

Other recordings

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Further reading

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  • "Erland & The Carnival Interview". Under the Radar. 21 February 2011.
  • "Erland & The Carnival: Question in the Form of an Answer". Passion of the Weiss. 31 March 2011.
  • "Erland & the Carnival: TAS Interview". The Alternate Side. 31 March 2011. Archived from the original on 15 April 2014.
  • Monger, James Christopher. "Nightingale – Erland & the Carnival". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 January 2013.

References

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  1. ^ a b Barkham, Patrick (8 January 2019). "nature's songwriter - Erland Cooper". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  2. ^ Murray, Robin. "'Critical Distance: Erland Cooper's Quiet Majesty".
  3. ^ Burnside, John (15 April 2018). "'How a seagull, a short-eared owl and an oystercatcher have released an album'". New Statesman. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  4. ^ a b Barkham, Patrick (8 January 2019). "'If it moves me to tears, I've achieved what I wanted': nature's songwriter Erland Cooper". Guardian. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  5. ^ On, Whats (8 January 2019). "'NEST London Borough of culture opening': NEST". Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  6. ^ On, Whats (8 January 2019). "'portia-coughlan': portia-coughlan". Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  7. ^ "'Composer buries album in Orkney':".
  8. ^ Guyoncourt, Sally (6 July 2021). "Erland Cooper buries only copy of new album, with fans urged to find it to be first to listen". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  9. ^ Williams, Huw. "Erland Cooper: Musician's 'planted' tape found in Orkney". Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  10. ^ a b Tyler, Kieron (6 March 2012). "Interview & Video Exclusive: The Magnetic North". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  11. ^ Malone, Ailbhe (5 April 2012). "Indie bands get into the island life". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  12. ^ Fulton, Rick (19 July 2013). "Simon Tong reveals how Orkney's rugged landscape inspired his new band to create haunting debut album". Dailyrecord.co.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  13. ^ "Erland Cooper - Sule Skerry / Phases from Piccadilly Records". www.piccadillyrecords.com. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  14. ^ "SAY Award announces 2020 Shortlist". The List. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  15. ^ "Superbloom: Music For Growing Flowers". Erland Cooper. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Paul Weller on X". X.com. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
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