Tempo Tempo and The Star & Shadow Cinema present:

Ora Cogan sings a kind of music the could almost be termed Gothic Country, were it not for the unexpected turns that her chord progressions take just when you think it’s about to reach some easy-on-the-ear culmination. Her sound is dark, dreamy, mysterious, slow, the Country drawl found in the music rather than the accent, and the reverb provides the engulfing echo that holds all those qualities together, turning them into something an opaque atmosphere that smothers the vocals, which sound as more like a faint wail heard unintentionally behind a cloud of floating sound.

Over the past few years Ora has become a darling of the independent music scene. touring worldwide and collaborating with Folk and Experimental artists including: Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir, The Be Good Tanyas, Rio en Medio, Daniel Lercher and Anni Rossi. Ora also co-founded Cornerstone, an A’cappella gospel quartet with Frazey Ford, Matt Anderson and Khari McClelland and Her Jazz Noise Collective in Vancouver.

She is still affiliated with Her Jazz Noise Collective, which puts on semi-annual “Women’s Studies” that feature female artists, many of them debuts, and welcomes Cogan as part of the performance series.

Ora Cogan was born and raised Salt Spring Island, B.C. Her house was in equal parts a home, recording studio, dark room and a haven for travelers and Musicians.

Ora began to write her own songs at the age of 12 and in her adolescence taught herself to play Guitar, Violin, Piano and Dulcimer.
Ora has released an album a year as well as appearing on a smattering of underground tapes and compilations and shared the stage with the likes of Hope Sandoval and while touring extensively throughout Europe & North America.


Reviews

Americana UK
February 21 2010

“Extraordinary and atmospheric”

The Vancouver Sun
January 30 2010

“The Quarry certainly doesn’t feel like an ordinary folk record. Cogan has managed to put her musical finger onto something strange and surreal.”

The Discorder
September 4 2010

“Cogan’s simple but sublime songwriting is enough to make this record brilliant, but the sparse, lo-fi production (courtesy of Cogan and Jesse Taylor) brings it an eerie and cohesive aesthetic that sets it apart from less considered contemporary folk variations and neo-blues iterations.
At its very best, music is an explorative expression, a highly cathartic and transcendental experience that drives artists outside of themselves and inspires those around them to see the world differently.”

Only Magazine

“This album is gorgeous, bitter sweet, and incredibly powerful.”


Check out her stuff here:

http://www.myspace.com/oracogan


Then we have Fire Records’ Virgin Passages from London. Likened to early Animal Collective, due to the tribal nature and acoustic direction, the group also showcases a great deal of sunken melody in the vein of early Spiritualized or Mercury Rev. Fire Records, for those of you who don’t remember, also boast Jackie-O Motherfucker, Josephine Foster, and Neutral Milk Hotel on their list, so Virgin Passages are certainly in lofty company.
"a lush reminder of the virtue of restraint, of ambience, and the setting of scenes"

DROWNED IN SOUND

http://www.myspace.com/virginpassages


Finally, You might remember Newcastle’s lovely and loveable Richard from his appearance on The Culture Show about a year back. If you live in Newcastle you probably already know his stuff and why it’s worth you coming along on the night. If you don’t then please check out his lovely music here and let it make your mind up for you:

http://www.myspace.com/richardmdawson


£5 on the door, or you can buy advance tickets here:

http://oracogan.eventbrite.com/


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