Will Bates Sets Sail With Revolutionary 'The Pirate Album'

Let's dive into the fascinating backstory of The Pirate Album, the latest offering from the multitalented Will Bates. Picture this: while knee-deep in film score work, Bates decided to rent a massive, fifteen-foot-long balafon (a gourd-resonated xylophone) without giving his director a heads-up. Enter Mathias Kunzli, his percussionist buddy, who joined in with six more balafons, creating an extraordinary symphony of sounds. The director, however, wasn't impressed, and the project fizzled out.

But Bates wasn't about to let those gorgeous balafon sketches go to waste. With a rich musical background in dance, indie-rock, and jazz, and years dedicated to film scoring, Bates decided it was time to create something entirely his own. He reclaimed the balafon sketches, sowing the seeds for what would become The Pirate Album.

Bates didn't embark on this journey alone. He rallied some of his closest musical allies, including Quentin Collins, a London-based jazz trumpeter known for his work with Kyle Eastwood, and Spencer Cohen, his drummer of fifteen years. Together, they transformed the initial sketches into a genre-defying album, blending influences from Eden Ahbez to Talking Heads.

The production of The Pirate Album wasn't a straight shot. Over eighteen months, Bates juggled film scores and album tweaks, slowly but surely bringing the project to life. The turning point came when Lucy Alper, a music supervisor from Bates' production company Fall On Your Sword, secured a sync for one of the tracks. This sparked a final burst of creativity, leading to the album's completion.

And what an album it is! Each track on The Pirate Album showcases Bates' talent for crafting unique sonic landscapes. The balafon sets a magical tone, weaving through lush arrangements and intricate rhythms. From the haunting opener to the upbeat, almost whimsical finale, every song is a journey. The production quality is top-notch, with layers of sound that reveal new details with each listen. Bates' ability to blend organic instruments with electronic elements creates a fresh and captivating sound that's both innovative and deeply emotive.

The Pirate Album stands as a testament to Bates' unyielding creative spirit. Born from rejection and transformed into a joyous studio collaboration, this album offers nine beautifully diverse tracks that confirm Bates' status as a significant artist in today's music scene.

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