How’s God? She’s Black

The title is taken from this piece of graffiti on the Berlin Wall. Piano and classic guitar led, with gamelan, and a string section. Tender, hopeful and positive with hypnotic piano riffs revolving in the background. A pause leads to a frenetic middle section which bursts into a sudden epic string section, similarly disappearing to leave a tender vulnerable ending. Nods to Steve Reich, The Penguin Cafe Orchestra and The Books.

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For Sudan (Suite)

Thoughtful sad piano with raindrop-like percussion states a strong melodic motif, slowly joined by gentle strings and delicate triangle. At 1:56 a hopeful bridge introduces pulsing cellos building to a full-bodied, quickened restatement of the main theme, then a gradual shift downwards in energy and tempo for a relaxed and pensive end. Good for campaign videos with a strong serious message.

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Jonquils

Sweet simple piano and bells, joined by light string section. At 0:30 mins in there is a more pensive section, a feeling of hesitation, “will everything be ok?” but then we are warmly reassured from 1:05 mins in, with instrumentation that builds to a strong and triumphant end. Perfect music for, I don’t know, a feel good video about adopting a puppy? I see puppies. Damn those Andrex adverts.

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Yepsen

Atmospheric, urgent piano track with added emotive string parts. Driving, dynamic and moving, perfect for humanitarian campaign videos and promotional material.

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Saisis par le Soleil

Glassy tones with bright guitar arpeggios and gentle glockenspiel. Delicate timbre with emphasis on glittering fantasy. holds back and quickens to 2:51 where strummed guitar introduces a more urgent section with horns and building layers of harmony. At 4:58 there is a held breakdown where everything is still, like holding your breath, then glock and guitar build almost imperceptibly to a strummed final section with added percussion. A beautiful, sublime track.

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Pile Dans les tCnabres

Bright guitar strumming joined by upright bass and glockenspiel. Develops with fluttering arpeggios and more active glockenspiel lines, breaking down at 2:08 to a more pensive section with long cello notes and stately horns. Builds slowly in harmony, dynamic and layers to a controlled ending. Warm, delicate, complex and beautiful.

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Morceau D'Amour

Beautiful glockenspiel sequences with classical guitar arpeggios. Joined by sighing deep cello lines. At 1:11 a simple pulse is introduced, progressing to full organic sounding beat with guitar strums. Searching, nostalgic, positive and dreamy.

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Le Vent

Beautiful glockenspiel sequences with glassy synth in background. Joined by plucked classical guitar – very anticipatory. Stays on a soft dreamy tip until 2:30, where it breaks down with quick percussive glockenspiel. Finally breaks into a light beat at 3:53 with harmonising arpeggios, then builds slightly with synth pads. Simple guitar arpeggio outro.

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La Paix

Percussive guitar and staccato glockenspiel accompanied by horns. Builds with syncopated percussion. Thoughtful, awake and intelligent with soft emotions. Sweet and brightly nostalgic.

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Ex Tempate

Soft emotive classical guitar is joined by soft glockenspiel, and low cello. Neutral, sweet and passive at first but gets more intense by degrees til it ends full of longing. Feels like unrequited love.

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