Orlando Seale and the Swell
London, England, United Kingdom
Music
Press
'ORLANDO SEALE AND THE SWELL.
Orlando arrived back at the Tabernacle with a 10 piece band (including strings, flute, clarinet and a number of drums) fresh from his BBC Live sessions success and blew the place away with a short but brilliant set. His band is very, very good and tight - orchestral training certainly brings discipline by the shed-load. Orlando's stage experience (he is a multi-talented man) shone through in his demeanour and commitment.
I am not going to attempt to describe what these people do save to say that it is Big in every sense , almost operatic in it's ambition. Orlando's lyrics are literary and lyrical, considered and there for a purpose. It's rock and roll for grown ups.
The set was far too short followed by the delightful scene of the man coming to the front of the stage for 10 minutes to chat with well wishers and new fans... By the way, Orlando is a babe magnet.
Orlando Seale and the Swell are playing at the Union chapel London N1. on June 4th. It is a fantastic venue and it promises to be something special.'
Tristan Hazell, Pre-prentimento - Tristan Hazell
'To hear them in full splendour makes me want to weep, absolutely unique.' Jo Good-BBC London
'It took me to another place, I was absolutely enthralled by it... beautiful, very full sound, orchestral, great lyrics, great song. BBC London-Matt Lynch
'I'm struggling to regain my composure. My head’s undone, unravelling and I’m melting as we speak.' Gunilla Karlson-BBC London
'Michael Nyman gets his groove on' –Dave Robinson
'If Jeff Buckley was still alive, and if he had been English, and if he had discovered orchestras, that’s probably what he would have aimed for. Amazing, I’m still trying to find my jaw on this plate.' Gunilla Karlson-BBC London
'We have really good bands on the show, but That for me will be one of the most memorable ones…absolutely fantastic.' Jo Good-BBC London
'ORLANDO SEALE AND THE SWELL.
Orlando arrived back at the Tabernacle with a 10 piece band (including strings, flute, clarinet and a number of drums) fresh from his BBC Live sessions success and blew the place away with a short but brilliant set. His band is very, very good and tight - orchestral training certainly brings discipline by the shed-load. Orlando's stage experience (he is a multi-talented man) shone through in his demeanour and commitment.
I am not going to attempt to describe what these people do save to say that it is Big in every sense , almost operatic in it's ambition. Orlando's lyrics are literary and lyrical, considered and there for a purpose. It's rock and roll for grown ups.
The set was far too short followed by the delightful scene of the man coming to the front of the stage for 10 minutes to chat with well wishers and new fans... By the way, Orlando is a babe magnet.
Orlando Seale and the Swell are playing at the Union chapel London N1. on June 4th. It is a fantastic venue and it promises to be something special.'
Tristan Hazell, Pre-prentimento
TT15/ Lesser spotted superstars: Orlando Seale
Posted on April 7, 2011 by Jont
Occasionally along this path of broken guitar strings and melting hearts, amid the glitter in the slipstream and the unabashed tributaries of passion and melancholy, one comes across another joyous soldier, pounding their chest at the sheer joy of it all.
One such comrade is the bright-eyed and gleaming and aptly-named, Orlando Seale. Fresh and eager as an otter, his language is deft and modern, real and romantic, eager and shamelessly (yet tastefully) sexual.
Accompanied by the inventively arranged string and piano accompaniment of his band The Swell, his songs soar with heart-felt melody, but as the strings of a harp feel no strain because of the strength of their frame (an elizabethan conceit seems suitable in Orlando’s presence) – so the connection with Truth and Joy that underpins his entire being helps him glide effortlessly in air most of us would find it a struggle to breathe in.
Orlando Seale and the Swell
We live in a world of the great acoustic revival, standing separate from the world of samples, beats and bedroom recordings. So when an actor/musician brings together an acoustic band of varying instruments, and often increasing size (the Swell) and produces music which doesn't fail to intrigue and excite we have something to celebrate.
When I was in London recently I caught Orlando Seale and the Swell at one of those events where you can stand in one place and an array of performers parade their wares, for free. The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) has been around for as long as I can remember as a home for artists and performers who move from the edge to what is relative mainstream. I would not put Orlando Seale on the edge - unlike previous artists that night: "The Prisoner's Dream" who gave us experimental music and performance that I found fascinating to watch and hear.
Orlando has surrounded himself with a range of talented musicians - all classically trained - some of whom are regulars and others who come and go. The Eusebius Ensemble played before Orlando, giving us arrangements of Radiohead and a Haydn Symphony, and joined him for his set. The richness of sound of the string players added to Orlando's regular cello, bass, drums, percussion, flute and oboe. Orlando is an energetic performer, his acting background has given him the skill to present himself as he sings and plays guitar that makes it clear that it is HIS band; yet it clearly isn't an autocracy. Cello player Dan Bull deservedly shares the limelight, not just in what he plays but also in his energetic performance style; and there is a warm interplay between Orlando and the rest of the band, some of whom double on backing vocals and extra percussion (notably twins Sarah and Katie Bennington on Flute and Oboe). These are REAL instruments, not synthed samples and the sound can be amazing in both it's power and sensitivity - check out the freakout ending of Master and Puppet, which in it's youtube incarnation provides a backdrop to performance artists.
Orlando's material moves between Billy Bragg, Ray Davies and the Who, it's folky yet rock, with carefully constructed social commentary. I especially like "Neon", a story of supermarket romance " wake all you dreamers, all you club card redeemers" - who of us hasn't had a real or imagined "close encounter at the deli counter".
This is a band that is gaining increasing exposure on radio and in the clubs of London and Europe. They have a few live recording tracks on youtube an vimeo and would benefit from a more innovative presentation in this medium, which is fast becoming a "must have" business card for bands ( just see what Pomplamoose achieved without a single live show). They're a great band so catch the Swell while you can.
- Eric Hathaway
'Orlando Seale is the first big highlight of the night. His thoughtful,
soaring compositions and almost bukowski-esque lyrics of romanticism in the blight of London are in equal parts inspiring and intimidating. As is his somewhat insane glare between songs. Seale looks every part the wild-eyed zealot...Rightly so though... with a little honing he could become a major talent for 2011.' (London Carnage)
- London carnage
Discography
We are just about to release our first EP in late Oct.
Here is a video of our recent Parisian gig which we've cut to the single:
http://vimeo.com/27515353
We've been played on Joanne Good's show on BBC LONDON and on Xtream indie.
Our most recent session on BBC London can be heard at the following link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00fqb6y
Photos
Bio
Orlando Seale and The Swell
Some call it Punk Folk, some say it's like having the Arcade Fire in your bedroom, we say we are ten friends playing music that swings wildly from the epic to the intimate, the melancholic to the euphoric. We bring you songs of night and the city, the lost and found on the underground, and the club card redeemers seeking salvation in supermarkets. We have been compared, among others, to Talking Heads, The Arcade Fire, Pulp, and Bowie.
The band consists of Orlando Seale (vocals and guitar), Dan Bull (cello), Simeon Rodgers (drums), Robert Collins (bass), Sarah Bennington (BV/flute/percussion), Katie Bennington (BV/oboe/percussion), and Lachlan Radford (double bass), Patricia Ramirez Reinoso (viola), Becky Hopkin (viola), Claire Wackrow (violin). We also collaborate with the amazing 20 strong Eusebius Ensemble, formed by some of the best young orchestral graduates from the major conservatories.
I (Orlando) was working as an actor in LA when I started writing music. My girlfriend at the time, a friend of the great Elliot Smith lent me one of his guitars, started me off writing songs, then ditched me! so I went back to the UK with plenty to write about.
Back in the UK I gradually put together my band, mixing musicians from both indie and classical backgrounds.
We recently collaborated with the Old Vic theatre on The Dark Carnival, a multi-media underground arts festival in the tunnels below Waterloo station.
We're also working with the Eusebius Ensemble (members of the Southbank Sinfonia) who created a 20 strong orchestra to play specially commissioned arrangements of the songs.
Our festival appearances include The Secret Garden party, Standon Calling festival (where we also played in the Rough Trade tent); Kimberly festival, Haslestock festival, The Feast of Dorset, 'Abril no tan cruel' festival in Madrid, the Winterwell festival, The London Word festival, and the Fete de la Musique in Paris.
Recent gigs include playing at Union Chapel, The Bagatelle gardens in Paris, The ICA, The Tabernacle. We also regularly perform at Favela Chic, the Troubadour (where we also curate nights of music, poetry and performance) and have played at Hoxton Hall (supporting The Pan I Am), at Shunt, Portobello’s The Tabernacle, The Paradise, The Slaughtered Lamb, The 20th Century Theatre, the 12 bar, the Betsey Trottwood, The Serpentine Cafe in Hyde Park, St Pancras Station, and the Great Brain Robbery.
And we've also been getting some nice mentions in PRESS and BLOGS:
'To hear them in full splendour makes me want to weep, absolutely unique.' Jo Good-BBC London
'It took me to another place, I was absolutely enthralled by it... beautiful, very full sound, orchestral, great lyrics, great song. BBC London-Matt Lynch
'I'm struggling to regain my composure. My head’s undone, unravelling and I’m melting as we speak.' Gunilla Karlson-BBC London
'Michael Nyman gets his groove on' –Dave Robinson
'If Jeff Buckley was still alive, and if he had been English, and if he had discovered orchestras, that’s probably what he would have aimed for. Amazing, I’m still trying to find my jaw on this plate.' Gunilla Karlson-BBC London
'We have really good bands on the show, but That for me will be one of the most memorable ones…absolutely fantastic.' Jo Good-BBC London
'ORLANDO SEALE AND THE SWELL.
Orlando arrived back at the Tabernacle with a 10 piece band (including strings, flute, clarinet and a number of drums) fresh from his BBC Live sessions success and blew the place away with a short but brilliant set. His band is very, very good and tight - orchestral training certainly brings discipline by the shed-load. Orlando's stage experience (he is a multi-talented man) shone through in his demeanour and commitment.
I am not going to attempt to describe what these people do save to say that it is Big in every sense , almost operatic in it's ambition. Orlando's lyrics are literary and lyrical, considered and there for a purpose. It's rock and roll for grown ups.
The set was far too short followed by the delightful scene of the man coming to the front of the stage for 10 minutes to chat with well wishers and new fans... By the way, Orlando is a babe magnet.
Orlando Seale and the Swell are playing at the Union chapel London N1. on June 4th. It is a fantastic venue and it promises to be something special.'
Tristan Hazell, Pre-prentimento
TT15/ Lesser spotted superstars: Orlando Seale
Posted on April 7, 2011 by Jont
Occasionally along this path of broken guitar strings and melting hearts, amid the glitter in the slipstream and the unabashed tributaries of passion and melancholy, one comes across another joyous soldier, pounding their chest at the sheer joy of it all.
One such comrade is the bright-eyed and gleaming and aptly-named, Orlando Seale. Fresh and eager as an otter, his language is deft and modern, real and romantic, eager and shamelessly (yet tastefully)
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