Manu Delago – Parasol Peak

Every now and then we all need to get back to nature, some more than others. To get a break from studios and tour buses, hang drum maestro Manu Delago got back to nature by taking a sound/film crew and seven musicians up the Alps. On the way, they recorded eight amazing tracks at different altitudes and often at freezing temperatures.

"On almost every location we faced a tough climb first, then very cold conditions, snow, installation time of the audio, instruments out of tune and finally – the shooting," says director and producer Johannes Aitzetmüller in the accompanying press release. "We sometimes could film only two takes, because the instruments were out of tune again, or our fingers were too cold or the icy wind blowing too fast." It’s like Touching the Void meets Enya with some incredible sound design choices; each track blends seamlessly into the next, transforming the narrative of the piece at each altitude.

Kicking the album off with the bright hang drum intro and eclectic jazz of Parasol Woods creates a great auditory analogy for the optimism of the journey which seems to rise and fall throughout the album. And it’s apparent that Delago doesn’t just provide a studio album from the Alps, with tracks featuring aspects of nature like Ridge View’s rumbling wind and Alpine Brook’s namesake. Helmet percussion, ice axe tapping and even rocks are used to create a relaxing, meditative journey that gives the album a real sense of place.

From start to finish Parasol Peak delivers a unique and fantastic experience that just has to be listened to in order to be fully appreciated. It's accompanying film is bound to be just as captivating.

Listen to: Parasol Woods, Ridge View, Alpine Brook