Over the past decade Kelly Moran has earned a spot in the industry as an accomplished and highly sought-after composer. Moran has collaborated with artists the likes of 'Oneohtrix Point Never' as part of his touring ensemble for 2018 album Age Of, as well as singer and composer FKA Twigs live ensemble. Moran has also composed for classical musician Margaret Leng Tan and worked with other visionary contemporaries like Kelsey Lu and Yves Tumor. As a solo artist Moran's critically acclaimed albums 'Bloodroot' and 'Ultraviolet', have explored a variety of extended piano techniques like John Cage-inspired prepared piano and exercises in improvisation.
Her unique strand of experimental piano compositions, which conjure hypnotizing textures and dramatic compositional arcs, have been included on year-end lists across classical, avant-garde, and metal genres.
'Moves in the Field' moves away from the prepared piano techniques which defined earlier works like 2017’s 'Bloodroot' and instead exists in a sphere somewhat similar to her 2018 Warp debut 'Ultraviolet' (in which the piano was used in a more experimental capacity). This time placing her instrument in a dimension more isolated and inward, referring to a series of skating rudiments. The title 'Moves in the Field' reflects the intense practice Moran put into becoming an even more masterful pianist when paired with an impossibly perfect technical partner: the Disklavier.
Click here to listen to 'Moves In The Field'
Moves in the Field is a product of execution, idealism, and careful production. Influenced by contemporary classical artists like Philip Glass, John Luther Adams, Olga Bell, Julia Wolfe, and David Lang, as well as alternative and electronic artists like Aleksi Perala, Telefon Tel Aviv, and Tori Amos. Moran and Moves in the Field exist at a precipice above two unlikely worlds. Utilizing classical minimalism's repetition and texture, but also the idea of modernized and synthesized "texture" found within electronic music. Moves in the Field's duality exists beyond the idea of humanity versus superhumanity and superimposes Classical Modernity upon an even more contemporary school of thought.
A departure from Moran's previous works, Moves in the Field portrays Kelly Moran in a compositional school all her own. Composed in an era of isolation and meditation on human and technical limitations. Moves in the Field presents itself as a personal and exuberant work of humanity versus the machine and technicality versus musicality, gliding between two worlds with elegance and a balanced mastery. Her second album for Warp Records, Moves in the Field will undoubtedly cement Kelly Moran as one of young modern music's greats.
