Transmitting by Red Largo

Based upon the unusual instrumentation of lap steel guitar, drums and bass clarinet through electronics, the music and sound of Red Largo was born out of the creation of music for the theatre performance “Anthropos Ex (Machina)” in Berlin during the winter 2022-23. Under the conceptual direction of Sonja Kessner - the writer/director of the theatre play - seasoned musicians Fredrik Kinbom (Gemma Ray, Gurrumul), Andreas Dormann (Moka Efti Orchestra, Ben Becker) and Chris Farr (Sophie Auster, Moka Efti Orchestra) created a musical language very much their own.

Opening track “Ex Machina” with its ebbs and flows, driven by Dormann’s bass clarinet riff, Farr’s drums and Kinbom’s ebowed lap steel, serves as a statement of intent for both the band and the album.

“Exodus (Transmission 2)” is an instrumental adaption of a song from the critically acclaimed Kinbom & Kessner album “Anthropos” (Hook Music/Theater der Zeit, 2022). It features vocals by Hannah Moule (of British band Moulettes).

Closing number “The X”, which grows from a faint whisper to epic widescreen drone rock over its 18 minutes, was improvised freely in the studio, with some ornaments added later, like running the lap steel through analogue synth filters and the drums through a 90-year-old radio speaker, plus harmonium by Swedish pianist/film composer Matti Bye.

The digital download version of the album also includes a radio edit version of "Ex Machina" (that is not on the vinyl LP).

Lap steel player, composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter. Solo project, Red Largo, Kinbom/Brandenburg film music, Kinbom & Kessner theatrical songs. Has worked with Gurrumul, Gemma Ray, Moulettes, Ned Collette, Sarah Blasko, Alberta Cross and others.

Photo by Glashier.

fredrikkinbom.com
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