Cognitive Shift Recordings launches today with news of its epic first album
The new company is the result of a collaboration between London labels One Little Indian Records (home to artists including Björk) and Manners McDade Music Publishing, the classical and electronic specialists whose roster includes artists Nils Frahm, Christian Löffler, Poppy Ackroyd, Federico Albanese, Florestano, and Fabric’s Houndstooth Catalogue (including Snow Ghosts, Special Request and Akkord).
Cognitive Shift Recordings manifesto is to ‘create a new home for contemporary classical music that has influences and instrumentation within the genre and beyond’.
Its debut release will be Overview Effect, the first album from composer Roger Goula.
Record execs say the album will encapsulate the ethos of the new label, bridging the gap between modern classical and electronic music. The record’s classical string instrumentation is performed by Thomas Gould, Peter Gregson, Lucy Railton and Stephen Upshaw.
When Goula was approached by Bob McDade to create the label’s first album, he presented the concept of the ‘Overview Effect’ – a psychological phenomenon experienced by astronauts when viewing Earth from a distance, allowing them to see the entire planet surrounded by the endless black void of space.
The experience can cause a cognitive shift in the minds of the astronauts, giving them a completely new perspective on life, Earth and humanity. The album and label formed with the aim of recreating this psychological shift through the power of sound and music.
‘I am very, very happy with the way the album has turned out. Overview Effect is a perfect primer for the future sound of Cognitive Shift and sets a high standard for our subsequent releases to match,’ said Bob McDade, founder of Cognitive Shift Recordings.
Goula has composed for tracks for commercials for Armani, MAC cosmetics, as well as film scores and orchestrated works for theatre.
The album is due to be released in September of this year, preceded by a digital EP, featuring the track Awe, and Awe (Phaeleh Remix) on 29 April 2016.