Iona Fortune is a resident DJ at Glasgow’s cold-wave and minimal synth night So Low. In the last couple of years she has also developed a sound of her own that blends electronics with traditional Chinese instruments and takes a heavy influence from Eastern philosophy. Fortune plays live (supporting Blanck Mass) at Glasgow’s CCA tomorrow, ahead of which we asked her to talk us through the five tracks she can’t stop listening to right now.
Midori Takada & Mkwaju Ensemble — Lemore
The week before last Midori Takada came to Glasgow as part of Counterflows festival, and this show was the jewel in its crown for me. It was held in the beautiful Glasgow University Chapel, and having performed there myself a few months back I was very excited to hear Midori play in such an acoustically brilliant venue. Un-amplified, playing a combination of chiming bells, drums and marimba, she blew me away. The speed at which she played the marimba was jaw-dropping.
Jorge Reyes — Plight
Fourth World music is enjoying a bit of a renaissance at the moment, and riding the crest of that wave is the sublime Miracle Steps (Music From the Fourth World 1983-2017) album compiled by Optimo’s JD Twitch and 12th Isle’s Fergus Clark. This track kicks the compilation off. Recorded in one take live on Dutch radio, it is a beautiful, soaring piece of music I have had on repeat of late.
Geinoh Yamashirogumi — Teinshou
I came across this last year not long after returning from Japan. Geinoh Yamashirogumi are maybe best known for creating the soundtrack to Akira, and Ecophony Rinne, the album this is taken from, shows how they got there. It is a fusion of traditional instruments with synthetic machine sounds, and a bit of home-brew programming too, along with the sonorous accompaniment of a hundredfold choir
Pauline Oliveros — Lear
Recorded 14 feet underground in a massive cistern with a 45-second reverb, this is transcendental sonic meditation of the highest order. Deep Listening is the name of the album but it is also a whole philosophy, a band and an institute in New York state. It can best be described as “an aesthetic based upon principles of improvisation, electronic music, ritual, teaching and meditation”. She sadly passed away at the end of last year, but Pauline Oliveros remains an inspiration
Haruomi Hosono — Tsukiyomi
My debut album Tao of I is close to coming out. I sent it out to a few friends, some on the dark web, one of whom suggested the final track B reminded him of a Hosono track. This led me to the beautiful Tale of Genji album, and the wonderful Tsukiyomi, a mix of the electronic and the traditional, synths and koto. Whilst I use the not-dissimilar guzheng zither on my track, I was flattered to be put anywhere near the same league as Hosono, so thank you for that Oldgum90! (Information on this track and album can be found here)
Iona Fortune supports Blanck Mass this Friday, April 21 at the CCA in Glasgow, and her debut album, Tao of I, will be released in late May on Optimo Music. Nadine McBay's feature on Blanck Mass is here
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here