FOOD

Thomas Strønen | Iain Ballamy

Extraordinary Anglo-Norwegian ambient electronica duo

Thomas Strønen - drums, percussion, electronics
Iain Ballamy - saxophones, electronics

with guests....
previous guests have included: Nils Petter Molvær, Christian Fennesz, Jan Bang, Koichi Makigami, Prakash Sontakke, Eivind Aarset..

Since their first concert at Molde Festival in 1998 this groundbreaking group has toured and recorded internationally pushing the boundaries improvised and textural electro acoustic music.

FOOD began as a quartet including trumpeter Arve Henriksen and bassist Mats Eilertsen. It now comprises founder members Strønen and Ballamy who perform principally as a duo but often invite like-minded musicians to join them.

Creating improvised music with sound, space, texture and contrast with visual film projections by Dave McKean and Knut Bry, the listener experiences ever-changing moods and textures that capture the imagination. Combined acoustic elements including bells, blocks, gongs and drums with lyrical saxophone serve to enhance and temper the music. The added dimension of film images and live sampling can create environments ranging from the minimalist to the very turbulent.

FOOD has released eight albums, most recently “This is not a miracle” for the ECM label in 2015. Further ECM releases include ‘Mercurial Balm' in 2012 and 'Quiet Inlet' in 2010.

Previous guests invited to play with FOOD have included Jan Bang, the pioneering trumpeters Arve Henriksen, Nils Petter Molvær, Hilde Marie Holsen and Tom Arthurs, keyboardist Morten Quenild and the esteemed Austrian guitarist / electronica master Christian Fennesz.

FOOD has written and performed commissioned two contemporary chamber pieces “Gold Acre” by Iain Ballamy for the BBC Radio 3 featuring Arve Henriksen as soloist with the London Sinfonietta, which premiered at Kings Place, London 2008 and ‘Lemur’ by Thomas Stronen for the Emulsion Sinfonietta at Cheltenham music festival in 2015.

Visit the FOOD ECM Player for background information and to listen to track sample.