Two Headed Emperor with Alessandro Monti
We're Not On The Moon Yet
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Alessandro Monti with Two Headed Emperor
We Are Not On The Moon Yet
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In early 2023, musical visionaries Barry Lamb and Peter Ashby of Two Headed Emperor joined forces with the mastermind behind Unfolk, Alessandro Monti, to create a truly unique project in the world of musical improvisation.
Using a groundbreaking approach, each musician created stems that were placed into 25 numbered folders, every folder with its own unique theme but without specific instructions on instrumentation, mood, timbre, texture or structure. From there, they individually created 25 tracks using at least one stem from each musician within each folder, and named them without any further direction from each other. The result is three sets of 25 tracks made from the same ingredients, each with its own identity, but intrinsically connected.
Now, the world gets to experience this unprecedented collaboration with the release of two versions of the album. Two Headed Emperor presents the English version of the album, "We Are Not On The Moon Yet", featuring Peter Ashby's vision of the tracks under Barry Lamb's project direction. Meanwhile, the Italian version of the album is released under the name Alessandro Monti and Two Headed Emperor's. This album is entirely made up of Alessandro's vision of the tracks.
But the collaboration doesn't stop there. Another version of the album is in progress, this time through the lens of Chris Cutler, known for his work with Henry Cow, Art Bears, News from Babel, Pere Ubu, Gong/Mothergong, and The Residents. The project showcases that unity is not uniformity, with each release having its own life but birthed from the same seeds.
"We Are Not On The Moon Yet" is a groundbreaking album that challenges the traditional boundaries of music and brings together three masterful musicians in a unified collaboration. It's a unique statement that gives each project its own identity while highlighting their connection and the artistry of the musicians involved.
"We entertained a number of different ideas about how to present this selection of tracks. There was no easy solution. We ended up with 75 tracks plus a couple of afterthought pieces. If you have been around the world of two Headed Emperor for any length of time you will know that we think of each project in terms of old school vinyl LP or EP length. The shortest set clocked in at a double LP with bonus EP (think Stevie Wonder "Songs In The Key Of Life"), to piece them altogether would cover at least a 4 album boxed set.
We pursued the idea of the best possible 45 minute LP length version and we all felt that to be an impossible task. The 25 tracks each seemed to a follow an interesting sequence despite the randomness in which some of the stems were distributed to the folders. In the end we opted to release two sets of mixes. Pete's collection most closely carried the hallmarks of a Two Headed Emperor album since it was not that far removed to the way we usually work on a project Alessandro's mixes offered a really interesting different perspective and atmosphere and we felt that these two double albums (plus) should be immediately released. My mixes, Chris Cutlers selection and some other remnants from the sessions will appear at a later date"
- Barry Lamb, April 2023
Using a groundbreaking approach, each musician created stems that were placed into 25 numbered folders, every folder with its own unique theme but without specific instructions on instrumentation, mood, timbre, texture or structure. From there, they individually created 25 tracks using at least one stem from each musician within each folder, and named them without any further direction from each other. The result is three sets of 25 tracks made from the same ingredients, each with its own identity, but intrinsically connected.
Now, the world gets to experience this unprecedented collaboration with the release of two versions of the album. Two Headed Emperor presents the English version of the album, "We Are Not On The Moon Yet", featuring Peter Ashby's vision of the tracks under Barry Lamb's project direction. Meanwhile, the Italian version of the album is released under the name Alessandro Monti and Two Headed Emperor's. This album is entirely made up of Alessandro's vision of the tracks.
But the collaboration doesn't stop there. Another version of the album is in progress, this time through the lens of Chris Cutler, known for his work with Henry Cow, Art Bears, News from Babel, Pere Ubu, Gong/Mothergong, and The Residents. The project showcases that unity is not uniformity, with each release having its own life but birthed from the same seeds.
"We Are Not On The Moon Yet" is a groundbreaking album that challenges the traditional boundaries of music and brings together three masterful musicians in a unified collaboration. It's a unique statement that gives each project its own identity while highlighting their connection and the artistry of the musicians involved.
"We entertained a number of different ideas about how to present this selection of tracks. There was no easy solution. We ended up with 75 tracks plus a couple of afterthought pieces. If you have been around the world of two Headed Emperor for any length of time you will know that we think of each project in terms of old school vinyl LP or EP length. The shortest set clocked in at a double LP with bonus EP (think Stevie Wonder "Songs In The Key Of Life"), to piece them altogether would cover at least a 4 album boxed set.
We pursued the idea of the best possible 45 minute LP length version and we all felt that to be an impossible task. The 25 tracks each seemed to a follow an interesting sequence despite the randomness in which some of the stems were distributed to the folders. In the end we opted to release two sets of mixes. Pete's collection most closely carried the hallmarks of a Two Headed Emperor album since it was not that far removed to the way we usually work on a project Alessandro's mixes offered a really interesting different perspective and atmosphere and we felt that these two double albums (plus) should be immediately released. My mixes, Chris Cutlers selection and some other remnants from the sessions will appear at a later date"
- Barry Lamb, April 2023
Download artwork for both albums here:
| wetransfer_moon-all-artwork_2023-04-28_0902.zip |
Recorded in London, Clacton-On-Sea & Venice early 2023