Michael Bardon - The Gift of Silence (2022) Hi Res

An extraordinarily rich and atmospheric collection of solo music recorded during the first lockdown in July 2020. Michael is a Northern Irish bassist/cellist/composer/improviser born in 1986 and based in Leeds. He first came to Leeds in 2007 to study Jazz (BA Hons) at Leeds College of Music and since graduating has worked with a variety of musicians from different disciplines and backgrounds including Shatner's Bassoon, Keeley Forsyth, Matthew Bourne, Dave Kane, Tipping Point, James Mainwaring, Sean Noonan's Pavees Dance, Hiby/Bardon/Hession trio, Jaktar, Hassan Erraji, Craig Scott's Lobotomy and Nat Birchall Quintet. Michael's performance interests lie in pairing both the electronic sonorities of electric bass, DIY effects pedals and synthesizers; with a more traditional acoustic set-up of double bass and cello.

All pieces on this album are derived from improvisations experimenting with extended techniques / prepared bass, microtonality and Harry Partch's 11-Limit tonality diamond tuning system, overdubbing and long formless melodies. Discus music recalls that back in the 1970s and 1980s, solo bass albums were relatively common. Today they are a rarity, and so Discus are delighted to make a contribution to that tradition.