Orfeas (Judge Smith album)

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Orfeas
Studio album by Judge Smith
Released 9 May 2011
Recorded Aug 2008–2010 [1]
Genre Art rock, songstory
Length77:42
Label Masters of Art
Producer Judge Smith
Judge Smith chronology
The Climber
(2010)		Orfeas
(2011)		Zoot Suit
(2013)

Orfeas is the eighth solo-album by Judge Smith, and his third "songstory" [2] after Curly's Airships (2000) and The Climber (2010). Orfeas is notable because of the use of speech music, where a musical instrument plays along with spoken words at the same pitch of each syllable. The album is also notable because of the variety of musical styles it incorporates, ranging from a string sextet, trance music, acoustic guitar music, and death metal. Finally, the music by the George Orfeas Band is notable because the electric guitar (by John Ellis who plays George Orfeas) and the saxophones (by David Jackson who plays Maxwell Blow) play identical melodic lines simultaneously.

Judge Smith English songwriter, composer, performer

Christopher John Judge Smith, is an English songwriter, author, composer and performer, and a founder member of progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. Initially working under the name Chris Judge Smith, he has been known simply as Judge Smith since 1994. After Van der Graaf Generator, he has written songs, stage musicals and operas, and from the early 1990s on he has released a number of solo CDs, including three "Songstories".

<i>Curlys Airships</i> 2000 studio album by Judge Smith

Curly's Airships is a double CD by Judge Smith, released in October 2000. Smith regards the album as a new form of narrative rock music, which he calls "songstory". Curly's Airships tells about the R101 airship, crashing in France during its maiden overseas voyage in 1930. Amongst many others, Peter Hammill, Hugh Banton, Arthur Brown, David Jackson, John Ellis and Pete Brown perform on the project.

Contents

Story

The story of Orfeas is loosely based on the myth of Orpheus. In three acts Orfeas tells the story of the talented and successful guitar player George Orfeas, who is fed up with his playing and his success, but then suddenly loses his guitar he calls Furry Dice. Subsequently he nearly dies in a car crash in Cuilfail Tunnel. After meeting his muse Eurydice somewhere between life and death he regains his humility and is allowed to return to the land of the living, on the condition that he does not look back. After his return, the George Orfeas Band does not play any of the old songs anymore. Seduced to play his old hits once again, however, his career comes to an end.

Orpheus legendary musician, poet, and prophet in ancient Greek mythology

Orpheus is a legendary musician, poet, and prophet in ancient Greek religion and myth. Some ancient Greek sources note Orpheus' Thracian origins. According to Tzeztes, his home was the Odrysian city of Bisaltia. The major stories about him are centered on his ability to charm all living things and even stones with his music, his attempt to retrieve his wife, Eurydice, from the underworld, and his death at the hands of those who could not hear his divine music. As an archetype of the inspired singer, Orpheus is one of the most significant figures in the reception of classical mythology in Western culture, portrayed or alluded to in countless forms of art and popular culture including poetry, film, opera, music, and painting.

Eurydice oak nymph, or one of the daughters of Apollo

In Greek mythology, Eurydice was an oak nymph and one of the daughters of Apollo. She was the wife of Orpheus, who tried to bring her back from the dead with his enchanting music.

A near-death experience (NDE) is a personal experience associated with death or impending death. When positive, such experiences may encompass a variety of sensations including detachment from the body, feelings of levitation, total serenity, security, warmth, the experience of absolute dissolution, and the presence of a light. When negative, such experiences may include sensations of torment and torture. NDEs are a recognized part of some transcendental and religious beliefs in an afterlife.

Production

The recordings of the George Orfeas Band were largely done in Nogaredo in Italy. Ricardo Odriozola and Ben Nation recorded the string sextet sessions in Norway. Trance music producer Andy Haldane contributed to the trance parts. David Minnick was the arranger, producer and co-performer of the parts with speech music. The mysterious band Black Path recorded their death metal parts. Lastly, in 2010 the solos by John Ellis and David Jackson were recorded. [1]

Nogaredo Comune in Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy

Nogaredo is a comune (municipality) in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of Trento. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,747 and an area of 3.6 square kilometres (1.4 sq mi).

Cover art

A photography session was done in January 2011 to portray George Orfeas, Eurydice and other players in the CD booklet. [3]

Reception

Dom Lawson of Prog Magazine in January 2012 called Orfeas "weird, witty and resolutely ecccentric". [4] Malcolm Dome of Classic Rock Magazine wrote in June 2011 that Smith told the story of Orpheus "with a resonant sympathy yet also a darkly devious humour". [5] Babyblaue Seiten in April 2012 called Orfeas "a wonderfully entertaining album". [6] In May 2012 the Rocktologist wrote: "This isn't really music as we know it, but if you like different types of art, this is bound to appeal to you" (7 out of 10). [7] And Shakefire, in April 2012 called the album "something insanely good" (rating 4.05 out of 4). [8]

Track listing

All songs written by Judge Smith. [9]

Act One – Hamartia

  1. "The Bard – One" – 1:55
  2. "Rundown Rudi" – 4:13
  3. "Soliloquy – One" – 0:46
  4. "Seven Yard Promenade" – 3:33
  5. "Interview – One" – 3:28
  6. "Orphic Lullaby" – 4:01
  7. "Soliloquy – Two" – 0:51
  8. "Wolfman George" – 3:14
  9. "Soliloquy – Three" – 1:25

Act Two – Anagnorisis

  1. "The Bard – Two" – 1:41
  2. "Soliloquy – Four" – 1:43
  3. "In-Flight Movie – One" – 3:11
  4. "Orfeas and Eurydice – One" – 2:59
  5. "In-Flight Movie – Two" – 0:58
  6. "In Hell – One" – 0:18
  7. "Carpet of Bones" – 4:31
  8. "In Hell – Two" – 0:41
  9. "In-Flight Movie – Three" – 0:52
  10. "Orfeas and Eurydice – Two" – 1:53
  11. "The Crab Nebula" – 1:47
  12. "Orfeas and Eurydice – Three" – 1:11
  13. "Orfeas' Audition" – 4:49
  14. "Don't Look Back" – 2:42
  15. "In-Flight Movie – Four" – 1:16

Act Three – Peripeteia

  1. "Interview – Two" – 4:11
  2. "Fishin' in the Styx" – 3:28
  3. "Soliloquy – Five" – 0:49
  4. "Don't Deafen Me, Persephone" – 4:28
  5. "The Bard – Three" – 1:18
  6. "Soliloquy – Six" – 0:48
  7. "Catastrophe in Czecho" – 1:32
  8. "An Announcement" – 0:43
  9. "Tear Him Asunder" – 4:07
  10. "The Bard – Four" – 2:17

Personnel

as The George Orfeas Band

John Ellis is an English guitarist and songwriter.

David Jackson (rock musician) rock musician

David Nicholas George Jackson, nicknamed Jaxon, is an English progressive rock saxophonist, flautist, and composer. He is best known for his work with the band Van der Graaf Generator and his work in Music and Disability. He has also worked with Peter Gabriel, Keith Tippett, Osanna, Judge Smith, David Cross and others.

as Eurydice

as the bard Anachronistes

as the band in Hell & Bacchus

the interview ensemble

the Soliloquies

as George Orfeas

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References

  1. 1 2 "Orfeas – The Composer's Blog". Judge Smith. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "Songstory". Judge Smith. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  3. ↑ "Orfeas – The Gallery". Judge Smith. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  4. ↑ "Orfeas – Reviews". Judge Smith. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  5. ↑ "Classic Rock's New Releases Round-Up | News | Classic Rock". Classicrockmagazine.com. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  6. ↑ "Babyblaue Prog-Reviews: Judge Smith: Orfeas: Review". Babyblaue-seiten.de. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  7. ↑ "Smith, Judge – Orfeas". The Rocktologist. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  8. ↑ "Judge Smith: Orfeas". Shakefire.com. 3 April 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  9. ↑ Orfeas (booklet). Judge Smith. Masters Of Art. 2011.
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