Album: Paul Hartnoll

Like many a DJ/producer who cut their teeth on high-octane rave - one thinks of William Orbit and David (Ocean's 11/12/13) Holmes - Paul Hartnoll's solo debut finds the former Orbital sibling setting his sights on territory occupied by film soundtrack scorers and modern classical composers. The opener "Haven't We Met Before?" is typical, its harp, strings and woodwind combining in a manner reminiscent of both Moondog and European film music, as they're strapped to a pulsing synth framework and hurled to a choral climax. "For Silence" is less dramatic, with delicate dulcimer languishing in a bed of strings behind Lianne Hall's throaty gargle of a vocal; while the austere clarinet and violin clouds of "Dust Motes" are cheered up by late-breaking shafts of sunlight strings and flute. There are echoes of Philip Glass in the way the strands of woodwind, harpsichord and rhythmic breathing in "Simple Sounds" intertwine around each other. The vocal contributions of Robert Smith, Akayzia Parker and Joseph Arthur nudge their tracks towards indie, R&B and techno-Goth, respectively. A diversely impressive effort.

DOWNLOAD THIS: 'Haven't We Met Before?', 'Simple Sounds', 'For Silence'

Interesting? Click here to explore further