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Modulus III
Dan Moore: Synths and Fender Rhodes
Drew Morgan: Cello and Synths
Matt Brown: Drums
“Making records like this (i.e. live and real-time) is a very brave and beautiful thing. Combining electronic and acoustic instruments has to be one of the frontiers that is providing one of the richest seams of musical possibilities still to be explored… and no one is doing it better than Dan, Drew and Matt in Modulus III”
-Will Gregory (Goldfrapp)
About
Modulus III is an instrumental live electronica trio based in Bristol, UK. They create music that is a mixture of dense, electronic soundscaping and dynamic, spontaneous live composition. Mixing minimal synthesizers, sweeping textures, energetic drums, haunting cello, driving Fender Rhodes – all woven together through engaging improvisations that might make you feel like dancing at one moment or like you’re lost in a retro-futurist nightmare the next. As cellist and synthist Drew Morgan says, “our aspiration for the band is to explore how repetition and phase can create complex and hypnotic rhythms, where improvisation is not divorced from harmony or melody, and where the audience is always privy to the musical conversation unfolding in front of them”.
Members of Modulus III also perform with kindred experimental ensembles such as award-winning, fellow musically-innovative and trailblazing Bristolians Get the Blessing, Massive Attack and Will Gregory’s Moog Ensemble. They’ve individually worked on soundtracks for films, games and TV shows with luminaries such as composers like Neil Davidge (Halo 4/Massive Attack), Adrian Utley (Portishead) and Anna Calvi. Whilst all three are very much in demand instrumentalists, Drew also has a background in contemporary classical composition as a former Fellow of Composition at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London.
Despite having the chops of top level session instrumentalists, Modulus III’s musical manifesto is a reaction against the tendency for virtuosity for virtuosity’s sake in a lot of modern/nu jazz, them being more philosophically akin with the post Sun Ra-esque aspirations of fellow poly-instrumentalists Tortoise and the use of hypnotic, polyrhythmic explorations of Steve Reich and the expansive, improvisatory ethos of early 70’s Miles Davis.
Album
Modulus III recorded their self-titled debut LP at a live performance in their home town of Bristol, and the resulting record was released in February 2018 on vinyl, CD and digital.
It has received repeated airplay on BBC Radio 3 and 6.
Electronic Sound Magazine described it as "A heady statement of intent that speaks to their insistence upon live spontaneity."
The fittingly modernist cover art was created by acclaimed artist Jock, famed for his design work on mainstream sci-fi blockbusters such as Batman, Star Wars and Ex Machina.
Vinyl and digital available from: www.bandcamp.com/modulusiii
Digital also available on iTunes and Spotify
Videos
Contact
iiimodulus@gmail.com
facebook.com/modulusiii
@modulusiii
