The Flowers of Hell
| The Flowers of Hell | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Toronto & London |
| Genres | Experimental, space rock, drone, psychedelic, post-rock, neo-classical |
| Years active | 2002 - Present |
| Labels | Optical Sounds Unfamiliar Benbecula Records Fat Ghost Saved By Vinyl Awkward Silence Starmole Japan Earworm Records Shifty Disco |
The Flowers of Hell are a trans-Atlantic experimental orchestra made up of a revolving line-up of 16 or so independent musicians based in Toronto and London. Their largely instrumental sound builds bridges between classical music and post rock, shoegaze, space rock, and drone music, often resulting in their being described as an orchestral extension of the work of The Velvet Underground and Spacemen 3.[1][2]
Led by synesthete composer Greg Jarvis, much of their repertoire is an exploration of the timbre-to-shape synesthesia that causes Jarvis to involuntarily perceive all sounds as floating abstract visual forms.[3]
The group's music has been championed by Lou Reed,[4] Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine),[5][6] Peter Kember (Sonic Boom of Spacemen 3) and numerous others. They have had positive coverage from media including Rolling Stone,[7] NME,[8] Pitchfork,[9] and BBC Radio.[10]
History
The Flowers of Hell moniker comes from an old blues concept of transformation whereby the misery and toil of the musician results in the pleasure of the listener. The name was first used by the group’s founder Greg Jarvis on tracks included on various UK covermount CDs in 2002 and 2003, of which just under two million units were distributed. Jarvis expanded the project into a London based live act in 2005 with the founding six piece line up consisting of himself as the principal guitarist, Guri Hummelsund on drums, Abi Fry on viola (later of British Sea Power and Bat For Lashes), Owen James on trumpet, Ruth Barlow as the accompanying guitarist, and Steve Head on Hammond organ. During 2006 and 2007 the group underwent numerous small line up changes.
In early 2008, following a move back to his native Toronto after a decade spent abroad in London and Eastern Europe,[11] Jarvis debuted a North American branch of the group as an opening act for Spectrum[12] (one of the post-Spacemen 3 projects of Pete ‘Sonic Boom’ Kember). The Flowers of Hell now operate on both continents simultaneously with Jarvis going back and forth for concerts and all members contributing to recordings.[13]
Throughout the band’s evolution, Jarvis has remained as its main composer and producer. Jarvis is a synaesthete and his compositions and productions are largely based upon his timbre-to-shape synaesthetic visions. Synaesthesia is a neurological phenomena where two senses are intermingled. With the timbre-to-shape variant, differing timbres give rise to a visual language of sound.[14]
In the fall of 2008, at the request of Kevin Shields from My Bloody Valentine, the Flowers Of Hell opened for MBV on one of the eight North American dates of the MBV reunion tour. Shields had seen the group perform a number of times in London at popular nugaze nights such as Sonic Cathedral.[5][6]
Notable events in the group's history have also included NASA's mission control staff in 2009 declaring their fandom and synchronizing The Flowers of Hell song Sympathy For Vengeance with fresh Discovery shuttle footage.[15] In 2010 Greg Jarvis made headlines after being detained in Sentani, West Papua by rebel soldiers from the Organisasi Papua Merdeka. Jarvis was mistaken for a spy and used a ukelele to prove he was a musician.[16] [17] [18] In September 2011, The Flowers of Hell closed Toronto's experimental/new classical Intersection Festival, performing as a 12 piece seated ensemble with Jarvis conducting a full 45 minute rendition of his composition "O", as a free open-air concert on the city's main public square.[19] They returned to headline again in 2015, debuting parts of their first symphony before embarking on a European tour. [20]
Collaborators
The group have collaborated with many musicians who’ve been side players or leaders in well established acts from the experimental side of the indie rock genre.[1] Performers who have guested on Flowers Of Hell recordings and/or live shows include Pete 'Sonic Boom' Kember (Spacemen 3, Spectrum, E.A.R.), Will Carruthers (Spacemen 3, Spiritualized, Brian Jonestown Massacre), Ray Dickaty (Spiritualized), Ivan Kral (Patti Smith Group, Iggy Pop's band), Ivo Pospíšil (DG 307, Garáž),[21] Owen Pallett (Arcade Fire, Final Fantasy, Hidden Cameras), Tim Holmes (Death in Vegas), Julie Penner (Broken Social Scene, Do Make Say Think), Abi Fry (British Sea Power, Bat for Lashes),[21] Neil 'Hamilton' Wilkinson (British Sea Power,[21]Mel Draisey (The Clientele, Le Volume Courbe, Primal Scream), Jon McCann (Guided by Voices), Julia Morson (Elora Festival Singers), (Elmer Iseler Singers), (Toronto Mendelssohn Choir), (Theatre of Early Music), John Mark Lapham (The Earlies), Tom Knott (The Earlies), Jan Muchow (Ecstasy of Saint Theresa).[22]
Discography
Studio Albums
- 2016 Symphony No.1 [23]
- 2012 Odes (Optical Sounds)
- 2010 "O" (Optical Sounds)
- 2009 Come Hell Or High Water (Unfamiliar Records, Benbecula, Saved By Vinyl)
- 2006 The Flowers of Hell (Earworm Records)
Live Albums
- 2010 Live at The Music Gallery (Spectralite Music)
EPs
- 2015 Aria 51 EP (Optical Sounds)[24]
- 2008 Awkward 26 (Awkward Silence split single with Will Carruthers)
Singles
- 2009 White Out (Fat Ghost)
- 2009 Blumchen (Shifty Disco Records)
- 2006 Excerpt from Opt Out (Shifty Disco Records digital)
- 2005 The Joy of Sleeping (Shifty Disco Records)
- 2005 Solitary Closure (Shifty Disco Records)
- 2005 Foreign Lands (Shifty Disco Records)
Compilations
- 2014 Heiligen - Music For A Good Home 3 (Audioscope/Shelter charity compilation)
- 2014 Atmosphere - Psych Pop 2 (Optical Sounds compilation)
- 2013 Mr.Tambourine Man - Strange Brew (UNCUT magazine covermount compilation)
- 2013 Muchomurky Bile - Psych Pop From Toronto (Optical Sounds compilation)
- 2012 The Human Illusion - A Changing Landscape (IFAR compilation)
- 2009 Darklands - Never Lose That Feeling 3 (AC30 covers compilation)
- 2007 Compound Fractures - Psychedelica 2 (Northern Star Records comp)
- 2005 The Sunrise Retreat - Algidance 3
- 2002 The Joy of Sleeping - Relax (Eve magazine covermount compilation)
- 2002 Gonna Stop (Wastin' My Time) - Red (Red magazine covermount compilation)
- 2002 Vindaloop - Dawn (Daily Star covermount compilation)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Allmusic review of The Flowers of Hell album
- ↑ Eye Weekly review
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- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Now magazine Perlich's Picks
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Mondo magazine concert review
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- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Adams, Gregory. (7 September 2012) Flowers of Hell Reveal 'Odes' Details, Share Joy Division Cover Exclaim!.
- ↑ Drowned In Sound
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