Taz Modi (Submotion Orchestra / Portico Quartet) shares new single 'Involuntary Memories t. 2'
Involuntary Memories is out on May 16th
UK tour dates announced
'Shimmering, alluring...reminiscent of Sakamoto, Frahm and Hauschka...an even more effective exploration of solo piano' - The Guardian
'Understated genius...listen to it; it'll lift you high above our care-worn world to a place of safety and grace' - Music Week
'Stirring contemporary piano-led compositions...a rich, emotive listen' - Bleep
Acclaimed pianist, composer, and producer Taz Modi returns with his latest solo album, Involuntary Memories, a deeply personal and evocative collection of compositions inspired by the unpredictable nature of nostalgia. The album, set for release on May 16th, explores involuntary recollections of the past and the emotions they stir, triggered by significant life events such as the ageing of his parents, the COVID lockdown, and the birth of his child.
“As I reached my forties, I started wondering why these involuntary memories were increasing in frequency, and events around me seemed to trigger more and more recollections of my past,” Modi explains. “I was writing this album around the same time and all of the tracks are inspired by these spontaneous recollections and the range of emotions they seemed to provoke in me.”
Best known for being a founding member of Submotion Orchestra and keyboardist for Portico Quartet, Taz Modi has built a reputation for blending jazz, classical, and electronic influences into an immersive sound world. His debut solo album Reclaimed Goods (2019) received widespread acclaim, with The Guardian calling it “shimmering, alluring...reminiscent of Sakamoto, Frahm, and Hauschka.” Modi has also collaborated with artists such as DJ Shadow and Mr. Scruff and has been a key figure in Matthew Halsall’s Gondwana Orchestra, contributing to multiple albums. His influences range from Harold Budd and Brian Eno to Oneohtrix Point Never and Talk Talk, all of which can be felt in the atmospheric textures of Involuntary Memories.
The album opens with 'Involuntary Memories Pt. 1&2', two pieces shaped by happiness and sadness. Of ‘Involuntary Memories Pt. 2', which is out today, Taz says:
“When I came across the pattern that starts this tune off, there was something in the way these two major chords next to each other created a sadness and melancholy that seemed to encapsulate something in how nostalgia works - happiness and sadness coexisting side by side, something that should be joyous actually being sad, and vice versa.”
Involuntary Memories will be available on digital and vinyl from May 16th and supported by a run of shows in the UK. Details below.
Tracklist
Involuntary Memories (Pt.1)
Involuntary Memories (Pt. 2)
Empty Floor
The Best Way To Erase The Click
Mirror
Reminiscence Bump
Labyrinths
The Weir
When I Was Your Age
Thursdays at 7pm
Tour Dates
15 May Bristol, Bristol Beacon - Lantern Hall
21 May London, Servant Jazz Quarters
12 June Leeds, The Attic
18 Sept Sheffield, Cafe #9
19 Sept Colchester, Colchester Arts Centre
Taz Modi Online:
