Sep 22nd, 2014

The wait is over, the album is finally here, Just Music is delighted to announce that Weightless (Ambient Transmissions Vol 2) is released this week. Watch the astonishingly beautiful Official Video:

The inspiration for the album came after Marconi Union were commissioned to collaborate with a sound therapist to write a piece of relaxing music, the first “Weightless” track.  The track caused a sensation when it was scientifically tested for it’s effectiveness and the research reported that the music slowed the heart rate, reduced blood pressure and decreased levels of cortisol, a steroid hormone that is released in the response to stress. When made public there was an instant and intense media reaction with many newspapers, radio stations and television shows picking up on claims that “Weightless” was ‘the most relaxing song ever!’, one national newspaper even warning motorists not to listen to the track while driving!

During the process of recording the original Weightless track, a number of musical ideas captured Marconi Union’s imagination and unable to explore the all in one piece but keen to work further on them, they decided to make more music using the same approach.  The new album comprises 6 tracks, simply entitled Part 1 to Part 6. The tracks are minimal, combining warm drones and drifting sounds with occasional sparse rhythms. Part 1 is the original “Weightless” track, which almost appears to have a heartbeat running through it, slowing down very gently throughout the piece, encouraging a deep sense of relaxation in the body with its specific rhythms, deep bass tones, frequencies and intervals inducing an almost trance like state in the listener.

“If an electronic track can be a limpid pool, this one is. Not a ripple touches the surface, not a single speck of dust clouds the glassy stillness. Weightless the album contains five more similarly translucently gorgeous tracks.”
The Sunday Times

“An ethereal sense of eternally free flowing dimensions…worth the wait”
DJ Mag 8/10

“Two years after [Weightless] was declared ‘the most relaxing tune ever’ they’ve delivered five further, equally calming, pieces worthy of men once asked to remaster the Eno’s back catalogue.”
Uncut 8/10

Read an interview with the band talking about their cross-global collaboration with web developer Raleigh Green for the launch of the Weightless online installation with the Marina Abramovic Institute.

And read what talented young director, Ritchie Johnston, says about the the making of the video:

‘As I listened to the track I was captivated by the way the song slowly developed.  The melodies were very gradual and captivating so I decided it was important that the video remained as one continuous shot, subtly interacting with the progression of the track. After discussion with the band we settled on using a digital technique I have been developing recently.  It draws inspiration from photographic studies pioneered by Eadweard Muybridge in the late 1880s.  His studies were used to map a sequence of movements that are unperceivable to the naked eye. After experimenting with a range of different subject matter I settled on the idea of using a drone. Its primary function is in aerial mapping and geological surveys, however its grace in the air and precise flight capabilities made it the ideal subject for the shoot. I choreographed a three dimensional aerial ballet for the craft to perform in conjunction with the track “Weightless”. Orchestrating the routine together proved challenging as I was using a technique that revealed unperceivable patterns which I was unable to fully comprehend until the project was finally finished.’

“British ambient band Marconi Union has drummed up the world’s most relaxing song: Weightless….aural bliss” Time Magazine No.11- Best Inventions of the Year

“Marconi Union are amongst today’s most talented musicians”
Sunday Times

“Marconi Union have steadily released albums of pristine, clinical electronic music over the last decade… continuing to refine their art in minimalist fashion and placing MU firmly in the vanguard of acts making atmospheric, ambient music.”
Music OMH