MARCONI UNION : WEIGHTLESS

(AMBIENT TRANSMISSIONS VOL.2)

TAO49 (CD and Download) Release date : 22
nd
September 2014
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 refne their art in minimalist fashion and placing MU frmly in the vanguard of acts making
atmospheric, ambient music - Music OMH
In the realms of modern day late night ambient exploration Manchester's Marconi Union often draw
comparisons with Brian Eno and Biosphere, perhaps Sigur Ros, but the graceful manner with
which their richly melodic compositions unfold and the emotion these eo!e sets them apart from
their peers" Since their #$$% debut album, 'Under &ires and Searchlights', they hae continually
refined and deeloped a uni'ue musical identity that seamlessly blends elements of dub, (a)),
ambience and electronic music" *heir music straddles the worlds of artistic credibility and musical
accessibility and trac!s from preious albums hae been selected as the beautiful bac!drop to
teleision commercials, drama and documentary films worldwide and to accompany art
installations, theatre and ballet"
Monday ##
nd
September sees the much anticipated release of this iconic band's +
th
studio album,
Weightless ( Ambient Transmissions Vol 2).
,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 rela#ing tune ever" they"ve delivered five further,
e$ually calming, pieces worthy of men once asked to remaster the %no"s back catalogue Unct 8/10
&atch the ideo here - Marconi Union &eightless ./mbient *ransmissions 0ol #1 2fficial 0ideo " *his is
what the talented young director, Ritchie 3ohnston, has to say about the astonishingly beautiful
ideo made using a geological drone -
"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
techni$ue I have been developing recently. It draws inspiration from photographic studies pioneered by
%adweard &uybridge in the late '(()s. *is studies were used to map a se$uence of movements that are
unperceivable to the naked eye. After e#perimenting with a range of different sub+ect 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 sub+ect for the shoot. I choreographed a three
dimensional aerial ballet for the craft to perform in con+unction with the track ,Weightless. -rchestrating the
routine together proved challenging as I was using a techni$ue that revealed unperceivable patterns which I
was unable to fully comprehend until the pro+ect was finally finished"
4or Marconi Union, the inspiration for their new album came after they were commissioned to
collaborate with a sound therapist from the British /cademy of Sound *herapy and write a piece of
relaxing music, the first ,&eightless5 trac!" *he plan was that the trac! would then be scientifically
tested for it6s effectieness" *he prospect of being inoled in this unusual pro(ect proed to be
highly alluring and the Union 'uic!ly agreed to ta!e part" &hen ,&eightless5 was tested at the
Mindlab Institute scientists reported that their research indicated that the music slowed the heart
rate, reduced blood pressure and decreased leels of cortisol, a steroid hormone that is released in
response to stress" &hen the research was made public there was an instant and intense media
reaction, with many newspapers, radio stations and teleision shows pic!ing up on the claims that
5&eightless7 was ,the most relaxing song, eer85 one national newspaper een warned motorists
not to listen to the trac! while driing" /ppositely, the trac! een earned the trac! the accolade of
being named as one of the 7Best Inentions of the 9ear7 in *ime Maga)ine"
:uring the process of recording 5&eightless5, a number of musical ideas captured MU's
imagination and unable to explore them all in a one piece they decided to ma!e more music using
the same approach" It soon became apparent that this was turning into an album;length wor! and it
was decided that this album should become part of their /mbient *ransmissions series"
*he new album comprises six trac!s, simply entitled <art = to <art >" *he trac!s are minimal,
combining warm drones and drifting sounds with occasional sparse rhythms" <art = is the original
,&eightless5 trac!, which almost appears to hae a heartbeat running through it, slowing down
ery gently throughout the piece, encouraging a deep sense of relaxation in the body, it's use of
specific rhythms, deep bass tones, fre'uencies and interals inducing an almost trance li!e state in
the listener" It has already attracted oer =# million worldwide iews on 9ou*ube and ? million
followers on Soundcloud" / recent posting about the trac! on the Mind Unleashed .following of @"?
million1 attracted nearly =>,$$$ li!es and =%,$$$ shares A the interest in this trac! is phenomenal8
Marconi Union hae also (ust launched an online installation for &eightless deeloped in cross
collaboration with web deeloper Raleigh Breen with the Marina /brabmoic Institute"
Read the interview
'Weightless':
It sounds as though sleepless nights could be a thing of the past thanks to Marconi Union. They have created a song
they called Weightless which has become, ocially, the most rela!ing song ever. That is the verdict of the bons who
say that its sustaining rhythm, the harmonic intervals, the absence of a repeated melody and the use of whooshing
sounds and hums" all combine to make the perfect aural narcoleptic. It is so e#ective drivers are being warned not to
put it on the car stereo." The Telegraph
It$s top of the pop%%%... Is this the most rela!ing song to fall asleep to& 'heck it out for yourself. (y% 'ooper, founder of
the )ritish *cademy of +ound Therapy, said It is ideal for unwinding after a stressful day" The Sun
Weightless, by Manchester trio Marconi Union, is ocially the most rela!ing song ever" The People
More rela!ing than a massage, walk or cup of tea. ,orget hot baths, yoga classes and wacky spa treatments - the
best way to chillout is to listen to music. )ut not .ust any old track. Musicians have composed the world$s most rela!ing
song - and it doesn$t include whale sounds or panpipes" The Daily Mail
+tress relief in a song" Daily Express
/Music and sound therapists have done some brilliant work using music to treat patients. With the more active
approach that Marconi Union has demonstrated here, how might music therapist be better able to meet the needs of
their patients&" Music Sparks
* lovely slice of ambience that is a 0ne e!ample of Marconi Union at their dreamy somnambulistic best" Opus.fm

Cere is a soundcloud lin! for the trac! and the album"

www"marconiunion"com www"(ustmusic"co"u!
for more info - e serena D(ustmusic"co"u!