Heat Ray: The Archimedes Project

British musician and composer Will Gregory is the co-founder of the duo Goldfrapp along with singer Alison Goldfrapp, and he has an extensive resume that includes work with Tears for Fears, Peter Gabriel, and Portishead. Hes also composed operas, Baroque pieces, and soundtracks, and performed with Michael Nyman and Moondog. In 2005, he formed the Will Gregory Moog Ensemble, which performed some of Wendy Carlos Switched-On Bach arrangements at the Bath Festival. Theyve continued performing at festivals and concerts, and recorded broadcasts for BBC Radio 3. The ensemble varies between 6 and 14 players, depending on the work being performed, and participants include Portisheads Adrian Utley, Hinako Omori, and percussionist Harriet Riley, among several others. Heat Ray, the projects debut album, was inspired by the work of Greek mathematician Archimedes, whom Gregory felt drawn towards after he began watching lectures online during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ensemble performed the music along with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Mute founder Daniel Miller executive produced the release, and performed on one piece. For the most part, Heat Ray has a majestic, future-Baroque sound unmistakably inspired by Carlos innovations. Its melodies are full of curiosity and wonder, though there is an air of formality to it. It could easily work as the soundtrack for a science-related documentary. The orchestral and electronic elements are well-balanced, generally enhancing each other and not drowning each other out. Only a few moments feel epic or bombastic, particularly the suspenseful "The Claw," while "Heat Ray" slowly builds from near stillness to a cosmic fanfare. "Archimedes Screw" also takes its time to grow, with sharp blasts of horn and processional drums joining the bubbling arpeggios. ~ Paul Simpson