Theme 2

In the world of electronic music, classically-trained composer and producer Culprit 1 stands apart from his contemporaries. His album 'Theme 2' is a shimmering sonic kaleidoscope featuring a wealth of unorthodox sounds, from Iranian santoors and obscure Italian synths to fierce beats and shuddering basslines. Referencing minimalist innovators such as Steve Reich and Terry Riley with a respectful nod to producers such as Four Tet and Rodney Jerkins, Culprit 1's eclectic and unique approach to music is like twisting a radio dial and hearing a random stream of sound that somehow makes sense. Classical strings caress the spoken word, intricate beats underpin 70s bleeps and seductive sequences sing out through the speakers.

'Theme 2' the second album of Culprit 1's career, is impressively playful and diverse.

"I doubt I'll ever tell anyone what it's really about" says Culprit 1, refreshingly free of the need for self analysis. "As the great Ernest Hemingway said of the characters in 'The Old Man and the Sea'; "…if I made them good andrue enough, they would mean many things". 'Theme 2' follows on from his critically- acclaimed debut album 'Running in Order' and features 12 vibrant genre-defying pieces, 5 of which feature electrifying contributions by guest performers. South London rapper Smiler contributes his lyrical bite and latent swagger to 'Distraction' and 'Motion', the angelically-voiced Iko gets both poppy and ethereal on 'Breathing In Unison' and 'Juhyo' and spoken word artist Polarbear is transcendental on the moving 'Space Between'.

Fact Magazine heralded the "grand string arrangements" of Culprit 1's debut album and the new LP continues the tradition of working with gifted instrumentalists in the studio. Foregoing the use of samples, all strings on the album were recorded by the talented quartet with which Culprit 1 performs live. Culprit 1 was trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama conservatoire in his native Wales, where he met live violinist Joanne Buckland. Together, they wrote the new LP's opening mantra 'Strings Intro', based around four

densely-layered and slow-moving chords. Little wonder that eminent Welsh composer John Hardy asked Culprit 1 to remix his latest recording with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Throughout 2010, Culprit 1 has been performing with the Bryden Strings (whose members have played with everyone from Kanye West to the Welsh National Opera) Anyone lucky enough to be at any of these live events could not have failed to notice the magical way in which Culprit 1 merges cutting edge electronics with live orchestral instrumentation. In

a sample and synthesis- heavy musical culture it is often easy to over look groundbreaking new electronic music. 'Theme 2' is a glorious and ambitious piece of work, which beautifully showcases one of the UK's most outstanding, fearless and imaginative musical minds.