Simian Angel
| Simian Angel | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 5 July 2019[1] | |||
| Recorded | 2016–2018[2] | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | Experimental[3] | |||
| Length | 36:17 | |||
| Label | Editions Mego[1] | |||
| Oren Ambarchi chronology | ||||
| ||||
Simian Angel is a solo studio album by Australian musician Oren Ambarchi. It was released on 5 July 2019, through Editions Mego. It received universal acclaim from critics.[4]
Background
Simian Angel is Oren Ambarchi's fourth solo studio album on Editions Mego, following Sagittarian Domain (2012), Quixotism (2014), and Hubris (2016).[5] It consists of two side-long songs: "Palm Sugar Candy" and "Simian Angel".[6] It features Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista.[7]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 82/100[4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Exclaim! | 8/10[8] |
| Pitchfork | 7.5/10[9] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Simian Angel received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 82 out of 100 from 5 critic scores.[4]
Philip Sherburne of Pitchfork stated, "Both tracks are powered by melodic instincts that have rarely played such a dominant role in Ambarchi's music."[9] He added, "on Simian Angel, we get a glimpse of something new: something sensitive, probing, and even whimsical."[9] Eric Hill of Exclaim! stated, "In its combination of electronics and Brazilian rhythms, it carries echoes of the best Bill Laswell experiments in world music, but with the structural audacity and occasional tension of vintage Gastr Del Sol."[8] He added, "Its explorations are well considered and the rewards for following along are many."[8] Audrey Lockie of SLUG commented that "The album makes a case for musical malleability, as its strengths lie not in Ambarchi's individual ideas as much as in his ability to respond and adapt to each new challenge that faces him."[10]
Accolades
| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pitchfork | The Best Experimental Albums of 2019 | —
|
|
| XLR8R | XLR8R's Best of 2019: Releases | —
|
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Palm Sugar Candy" | 16:03 |
| 2. | "Simian Angel" | 20:13 |
| Total length: | 36:17 | |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.[2][13]
- Oren Ambarchi – guitar, etc., editing, mixing
- Cyro Baptista – percussion, voice
- Randall Dunn – recording
- Iuri Oriente – recording
- Jörg Hiller – recording, editing
- Joe Talia – mixing
- Rashad Becker – lacquer cut
- Konrad Sprenger – executive production
- Dick Wolf – executive production
- Lasse Marhaug – design
- Traianos Pakioufakis – photography
- Kiki Papadopoulou – live photography
References
- ^ a b Mrozek, Patryk (9 May 2019). "Oren Ambarchi announces Simian Angel with percussionist Cyro Baptista, out in July on Editions Mego". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ a b c Oren Ambarchi (2019). Simian Angel (CD booklet). Editions Mego.
- ^ "Exclaim!'s 10 Best Experimental Music Figures of 2019". Exclaim!. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ a b c "Simian Angel by Oren Ambarchi". Metacritic. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ Otis, Erik (3 June 2019). "Oren Ambarchi Renews Focus on Electric Guitar on New Editions Mego Album". XLR8R. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ Burnett, Joseph (9 August 2019). "Oren Ambarchi — Simian Angel". The Quietus. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ Couture, François. "Oren Ambarchi". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ a b c Hill, Eric (8 July 2019). "Oren Ambarchi". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ a b c Sherburne, Philip (8 July 2019). "Oren Ambarchi: Simian Angel". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ Lockie, Audrey (5 July 2019). "Review: Oren Ambarchi – Simian Angel". SLUG. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "The Best Experimental Albums of 2019". Pitchfork. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "XLR8R's Best of 2019: Releases". XLR8R. 19 December 2019. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "Simian Angel | Oren Ambarchi". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
External links
- Simian Angel at Discogs (list of releases)