Name: Nomad Songs
Brand: Stephan Micus

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

4714325

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2015-06-24

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Proper

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

602547143259

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Total Cap

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Stephan Micus

Genre GB

Jazz

Label GB

ECM Records, also known as "The Creative Label," is a German independent label that was co-founded by producer Manfred Eicher, Manfred Scheffner, and Karl Egger in Munich (Pasing) in 1969. With the label code LC 2516 / LC 02516, ECM stands for Edition of Contemporary Music and specializes in jazz and Western classical music. Their catalog features both acoustic and electronic artists who produce eclectic versions of contemporary music.

Since its inception, ECM has released over 1500 recordings spanning more than 40 years. The label's diverse catalog includes works from renowned composers such as Steve Reich, Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass, and many others. They are also known for their experimental and electronic jazz releases featuring artists like Nils Petter Molvær, Pat Metheny Group, Jan Garbarek, among others.

What sets ECM apart is not only their outstanding music but also their commitment to creative production and exceptional sound quality. Each album released by ECM showcases the label's dedication to producing top-notch recordings that captivate listeners with their sonic brilliance.

Stephan Micus is a German musician, singer, and composer born on January 19, 1953 in Stuttgart. He is known for his unique style that blends various musical traditions from around the world. With a career spanning several decades, Micus has established himself as an influential figure in the music industry.

His music draws inspiration from diverse cultures and incorporates instruments from different regions. Some of his similar artists include Anouar Brahem, Vassilis Tsabropoulos, David Darling, John Surman, Dhafer Youssef, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Steve Tibbetts, Jan Garbarek, Jon Balke, Trygve Seim, Ketil Bjørnstad,
Djivan Gasparyan,Misha Alperin,
Arild Andersen,Bobo Stenson Trio,Terje Rypdal,Eberhard Weber,Renaud Garcia-Fons,Codona,and Eivind Aarset.

Micus's compositions are characterized by their ethereal and introspective nature. His mastery of multiple instruments allows him to create richly layered soundscapes that transport listeners to otherworldly realms. Whether performing solo or collaborating with other musicians,

Stephan Micus is a unique figure in music. Songlines magazine has described him as "a one man universe of sound" and his music is profound, powerful and certainly very original as 'Nomad Songs', his 21st album for ecm, demonstrates. In his journeys all over the world Stephan Micus seeks to study and understand traditional instruments, the sounds that they produce and the cultures that brought them to life. He then composes original pieces for them, combining instruments that would never normally be heard together, chosen from different cultures simply for their character, texture and sonic beauty. Here he plays nine different instruments, but emphasizes two he hasn't used before: the first is the Moroccan genbri, a lute covered with camel-skin, played by the gnawa in Morocco. The second is the ndingo, a lamellophone similar to the kalimba, used by the san people in botswana. These indigenous inhabitants of southern Africa have been pushed off their land and marginalized by the new nation states. With the album's title Micus, who sees himself as a musical nomad, refers to both the situation of people like the gnawa and the san as well as his own way of working and living. Micus's vocals are sung in an invented language which he's used on many previous albums. "it's not a language with a vocabulary, but these words are just vehicles for emotions. i guess anybody can understand it in a way - not intellectually, but emotionally or intuitively." In addition to the three guitars he employs, the instruments on this album come from Botswana, Morocco, Bali, Egypt, China, Afghanistan, Ireland and Japan but Micus very rarely plays them in the conventional way.

Nomad Songs

Music GB