St David’s Hall, Cardiff
Tue 8 May
A classically-trained cellist from the Royal Academy of Music, Oliver Coates’ contribution to the industry in recent years has not been classical by any reckoning. Chopping and looping his cello playing into mesmerising patterns and distorted sweeps intercut with min-tech sensibilities, he released the record Upstepping in 2016 to acclaim. Already a veteran of collaboration with giants of more experimental regions, including Massive Attack, DOOM and Actress, Coates joined forces with Mica Levi on creating the soundtrack to Under The Skin, and later in producing an album together; Remain Calm is a jarring, oftentimes eerie record, with the cello acting as the focal centre of an Asiatic-tinged trip.
Forming an acquaintance with Radiohead’s Johnny Greenwood, Coates was brought out to score Philip Thomas Anderson’s The Master and There Will Be Blood, and later asked back to play on Radiohead’s own A Moon Shaped Pool album with the London Contemporary Orchestra – their work on the track ‘Daydreaming’ “the sound of the album,” according to Thom Yorke.
Coates comes to St David’s Hall as part of the Nightmusic series, which looks to bring the more unique stylings of contemporary music from British artists through Cardiff and forge a new era in chamber music. Alongside pieces by Coates and Levi, Tŷ Cerdd also presents a commission of choice Welsh artists for the concert.
Tickets: £10. Info: 029 2087 8444 (JM)