Bell Orchestre

Bell Orchestre is a six-piece chamber ensemble that shares members with Montreal-based indie rock groups such as <a href="spotify:artist:3kjuyTCjPG1WMFCiyc5IuB">Arcade Fire</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:3yVH6DulVn7iKBitWpj225">the Luyas</a>. With influences that range from <a href="spotify:artist:1TsG4AumsMt1Tcq2nHpov9">Lee "Scratch" Perry</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:7Fo8TAyGJr4VmhE68QamMf">Talk Talk</a> to <a href="spotify:artist:2P6ygesd9xg5DPOBnda2jg">Arvo Pärt</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6rAZ6OYwAXqykSlPxqGy8E">the Penguin Café Orchestra</a>, the mainly instrumental outfit crafts aerial slabs of classically infused post-rock that flirt with technology while remaining determinedly fluid and organic. The Orchestre have released triumphant, exploratory studio albums such as 2005 debut Recording a Tape the Colour of the Light and 2021's House Music (their first release in over a decade).

Bell Orchestre formed around the talents of bassist/percussionist/keyboardist <a href="spotify:artist:7kdBCYCfsZQPu4dVYpvswY">Richard Reed Parry</a> (<a href="spotify:artist:3kjuyTCjPG1WMFCiyc5IuB">Arcade Fire</a>), violinist <a href="spotify:artist:17YxHBveizVRDwCUBVn1X0">Sarah Neufeld</a> (<a href="spotify:artist:3kjuyTCjPG1WMFCiyc5IuB">Arcade Fire</a>), drummer <a href="spotify:artist:2kiN34DD6EDaawrTSxzn3n">Stefan Schneider</a> (<a href="spotify:artist:3yVH6DulVn7iKBitWpj225">the Luyas</a>), French horn player Pietro Amato (<a href="spotify:artist:0W5VjIK6hMYNOqIGPt8ham">Torngat</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3yVH6DulVn7iKBitWpj225">the Luyas</a>), trumpet player Kaveh Nabatian, and lap steel guitar player Mike Feuerstack (<a href="spotify:artist:3rMqXfdQP32sLmRAnvUOw7">Snailhouse</a>). They made their self-titled demo CD-R in 2002, and they recorded their first album, Recording a Tape the Colour of the Light, during the same time period and in the same studio as <a href="spotify:artist:3kjuyTCjPG1WMFCiyc5IuB">Arcade Fire</a>'s Funeral. After touring with the group in support of their breakout album, Bell Orchestre's debut was finished and issued by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Rough+Trade%22">Rough Trade</a> in 2005. The release was subsequently nominated for a JUNO award in the category of Best Instrumental Album. In 2009, they released As Seen Through Windows on the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Arts+%26+Crafts%22">Arts & Crafts</a> label. Recorded and mixed by <a href="spotify:artist:3WggbHDpj4rPKbL97zG5MQ">Tortoise</a>'s <a href="spotify:artist:39xjP2biuKg7i0U6DwoRHg">John McEntire</a>, the album included a cover of "Bucephalus Bouncing Ball" by <a href="spotify:artist:6kBDZFXuLrZgHnvmPu9NsG">Aphex Twin</a>. Who Designs Nature's How, a remix EP featuring interpretations by <a href="spotify:artist:1qiwaJwjKod5WhcYZ76O1B">Tim Hecker</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3hbnUwHvxyFxeJ9veCzOE7">Mad Professor</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2s0438sn0pYL2OuukcFqPN">Kid Koala</a>, and others, followed later in the year.

Bell Orchestre sporadically performed during the 2010s, but they returned with their third album, House Music, in 2021. Issued by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Erased+Tapes%22">Erased Tapes</a>, the release was recorded in <a href="spotify:artist:17YxHBveizVRDwCUBVn1X0">Neufeld</a>'s house, and structured from a group improvisation. ~ James Christopher Monger & Paul Simpson, Rovi