Info for 'Objects'Isobel Waller-Bridge today releases Objects, a new album shaped by four years of work in the rare moments of stillness her composing schedule allowed. Known for scores that move beyond atmosphere into psychological portraiture, Waller-Bridge turns her attention inward here, creating pieces that invite listening as an act of presence rather than performance.
Objects reflects her long-standing interest in minimalism, deep listening and musique concrète. Working with everyday items as her starting point, she explored their natural frequencies and textures, following instinct over structure. “These pieces are simple, strange, and lovingly handmade,” she says. “They reflect how I move through the world: with curiosity, with slowness, and with an openness to the unexpected music in everything.”
The project began with experiments such as Ball, in which the object’s tones were shaped into chords, and evolved through works like Shoe, written in New York and coloured by the city’s constant motion, and Glass, which grew from raw material into a reflection on winter light over London. Pieces such as Cushion and Hz continue this exploration, tuning into frequencies that helped quieten the mind.
Throughout the album, Waller-Bridge embraces a return to the curiosity that first drew her to composing. She honours the instinctive, forward-moving approach of automatic writing, allowing each piece to emerge without revision. What began as a minimalist study became a broader portrait of how she listens and engages with the world.
Objects captures the coexistence of her many artistic identities: the acclaimed composer behind film, television and ballet, and the perpetual student searching for new ways to hear and to express. “This album taught me that exploration is endless,” she shares. “And for me, there is a deep peace in that thought.”
https://www.grainsmusic.com/articles/isobel-waller-bridge-releases-new-album-objects-277614
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Isobel Waller-Bridge has had a highly eclectic career to date.
Primarily it's involved being a film and television composer, working on her sister Phoebe’s smash Fleabag, Autumn De Wilde’s update of Emma and the acclaimed dark comedy Sweetpea. One of the things underpinning these projects across a range of disparate genres is the breadth of Isobel’s score, suiting both period works, epics and intimate character-driven projects.
This range is apparent on her sophomore record, solo project Objects from the seven-minute opener “Pillow”. It has a cinematic quality to it, easy to picture as part of a score, hauntingly beautiful but never feeling its length, full of depth. “Glass” feels like something from a horror film, with background noise and effects at its epicentre; it’s an uncomfortable listen at times, a far cry from what we might expect from Isobel. Its second half balances the textures of her soundtrack work with the more experimental nature. It’s an intoxicating blend with shades of Brian Eno yet still distinctly Waller-Bridge’s own sound.
The project is a real labour of love, having been recorded during periods of downtime across four years. The background effects draw on her interest in musique concrète, which mined sounds directly from our environment. The minimalism and intersection of electronic and classical influences create a constantly engaging listen.
"Objective Contemplation” features serene woodwinds and orchestral elements, building a more baroque environment, offering a contrast to what we’ve heard previously. It creates a sense of calm amidst some of the more disquieting elements elsewhere. “Hoover” meanwhile, feels contemplative and dreamlike, a soundscape of its own. These two tracks really encapsulate the diversity of this project and Waller-Bridge’s overall output a fine showcase for her dexterity as an artist.
“Shoe” continues in the baroque vein, a gorgeous listen with sirens wailing, barely audible in the background. It feels like it is soundtracking an event in real time, one that is just out of glimpse. There is a sense of calm accompanying the rush of the daily routine, allowing us a moment to pause amidst the chaos.
With Objects, Isobel Waller-Bridge cements her credentials as far more than simply a film composer with plenty of introspection and self-reflection. The blend of contemporary classical, baroque and electronic and ambient (sometimes all within the same track) is fascinating and wide ranging. It’s the sound of someone constantly tinkering, learning and finding her own voice.
https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/isobel-waller-bridge-objects-finds-beauty-in-stillnes
