Will Bates releases new album

For decades, Will Bates has been a pionneering instrumental and experimental musician hailing from Los Angeles, best known for his work in film composition. The son of two Hammer Horror actors, Will began his musical career as a jazz saxophonist in London and over time, has evolved into an artist whose work breaks genres and flows between styles.

His diverse musical background includes collaborations with artists as varied as Roy Ayers, Pussy Riot and Morcheeba while his compositions have soundtracked a wide range of films and television series. With multiple well-received records and an exhaustive list of accolades, he’s enjoyed a decorated musical adventure that’s seen his sonic vision come to life in spectacular fashion.

Now, he presents his latest offering, The Pirate Album, a project that stands apart from his film scores and explores his experimental side. The album’s conception is as unconventional as Bates himself; it began during a film project where he rented a fifteen-foot-long balafon, a gourd-resonated xylophone, without consulting the director. Despite his best intentions, the director was unimpressed, leading to a parting of ways. But rather than letting the beautifully crafted balafon sketches go to waste, Will decided to reclaim them, planting the seeds for what would eventually become The Pirate Album.

Drawing on his background in various music genres, including dance music, indie rock and jazz, he set out to create an album that was not just a soundtrack but something entirely his own. He enlisted the help of frequent collaborators, including childhood friend Quentin Collins, a London-based jazz musician and Spencer Cohen, a New York-based drummer and percussionist who has worked with Will for over fifteen years. Together, they reworked the balafon sketches, transforming them into the unique and compelling nine tracks that make up The Pirate Album.

Musically, The Pirate Album is a genre-bending journey that sits somewhere between the lush, naturalistic sounds of Eden Ahbez and the art rock stylings of Talking Heads. Over the span of eighteen months, the album evolved as Bates juggled his composition work, with each track slowly taking shape in the studio. The project gained momentum when Lucy Alper, a music supervisor from Will’s production company Fall On Your Sword, secured a sync for one of the album’s tracks, reigniting the creative spark and pushing Bates to bring the album to completion.

From the bright flutter of colourful instrumentation and infectious groove of opening track “Superman Hits the Pulsar” to the tender vibe and hazy aesthetic of “Small Fighting Pigeons” to the closing track, “Handshake from a Great David” where cinematic sweeps of airy arrangement forms a stunning slice of avant-garde instrumental music, The Pirate Album presents an enthralling listening experience. Packed full of unique arrangements, energising rhythms and intricate composition, the record serves up a fascinating snapshot from a visionary artist as he continues to craft highly original musical works.

Commenting on the album, he offers, “I know how lucky I am to have a career in film music, being able to make music everyday. But it’s been a long time since I worked on music that isn’t against picture, and any insecurities I may have had about it were quickly cast aside with the help of my collaborators.”

Listen to The Pirate Album below