DAVID MARANHA, HELENA ESPVALL, RICARDO JACINTO & NORBERTO LOBO

“Sombras Incendiadas” is the title of the blissful record by the duo of David Maranha and Helena Espvall released this year on the swiss imprint three:four records; a volume composed of dense drones punctuated by luminous harmonics navigating the minimalist chambers they’ve projected and arranged with an enchanting masterfulness. David and Helena have been frequent collaborators ever since the swedish cellist participated in the recording sessions of “Marches of the New World”, a poignant album in David’s discography released in 2007, and the partnership gained new developments after Helena decided to move to Lisbon a couple of years ago.

Based for a good few years in the East Coast of the United States, Helena first got wider exposure as one of the voices of the band Espers, known on their active years for their updated take on the anglo-saxon folk music forms. Celebrated as a highly melodic improvisational player, always exploring the phrasing possibilities in the context of the post-classical and teluric lexicons, among her solo work stands out her two records produced together with Masaki Batoh, the leader of Ghost (published on Drag City), besides also being known for regular live contributions and joining the touring bands of artists such as Vashti Bunyan, Damon and Naomi or Marissa Nadler. David Maranha is an intrepid explorer of the potentialities of continuous sound, of silence, volume, space, acoustics and sound architecture, be it with the group Osso Exótico or on his own solo career, performing live regularly with other musicians that he invites to help him bring to life his open compositions. Besides his music work, in which he has been active since the late 80’s with a proficuous discography amounted, usually centered around the electric organ and amplified violin, David has also in the last few years publicly shown his work in visual arts, mainly sculptural objects and installation mediums, on independent and commercial galleries.