PREVIEW: Empirical exclusive new E.P.

Award-winning UK jazz quartet Empirical announce a follow-up to their acclaimed 2016 studio album Connection with a two-part, limited edition EP release. Marking the first release under the band’s own label, Empirical Music, the two sets, entitled Indifference Culture and Distraction Tactics, are as much testament to Empirical’s journey since Connection, as they are a reaction to the ‘new normal’ of the world in 2018. 

The EPs take the names of two compositions by Tom Farmer that comment on the twin societal evils of the rise of social media-induced narcissism and diminishing empathy for our fellow human beings – trends that leave us ill-equipped to take on the orchestrators of today’s culture wars who seek to distract us with a constant stream of fake news and unprecedented political scandal. 

Indifference Culture closes with this track - Shaney Forbes’ ‘Celestial Being’, a life-affirming tour de force that contrasts explosive energy with delicate intricacy. As Forbes explains: ‘This piece is an imagination of how detailed yet profound a message of such a Celestial Being is to people on Earth. We conjure up the effect of the force of their presence and act as a vehicle for transporting this message as comrades of the Celestial Being.’ 

Retaining the band’s quartet format throughout, the EPs succeed to the greatest degree yet in capturing the exhilarating intensity and exceptional virtuosity that Empirical’s live performance has become known for. Tom Farmer recalls the recording process: ‘We went into the studio soon after one of our pop-up residencies. After such an intense run of gigs we were completely fired up and it was a case of ‘’let’s just play!’’’ Drummer Shaney Forbes explains: ‘Even though the four us have been playing music together for more than ten years, we are still always excited to explore the creative possibilities that come out of our instrumentation and the fact that all four of us contribute to the music. It actually feels like we’ve only just begun that exploration.’

Indifference Culture will be released on 16th November 2018 to coincide with Empirical’s concert on opening night of the 2018 EFG London Jazz Festival at the Purcell Room.