Composer/Guitarist based in Liverpool, UK - www.alex-cottrell.com
(Originally posted on 16th April 2014) When The Canterbury Tales ended, I found myself with a desire to take the ideas I’d discovered during that process a little bit further. Writing the music purely for a live context shaped the sound and the performances in a very particular way. The compositions were really effective in […]
(Originally posted on 7th March 2014) It’s great to be working again with the passionate theatre community of the University of Liverpool. Some of you may remember the otherworldly Goblin Market put on by award-winning LUDS and my eerie Balalaika-infused score that went with it. Well, this time they’re teaming up with The Liverpool University Players to […]
(Originally posted on 20th January 2014) In August 2013, a couple of months after I graduated university, I decided to commit myself to becoming a full time musician. After nearly 7 years of being a dedicated hobbyist alongside my education, it felt like it was now or never. I’ve decided to give you an update […]
(Originally posted 7th September 2013) A couple of bits of exciting news from the past month or so, and some others concerned with what’s coming next. First off, the piece ‘Transitions’, written by myself and Sarah Peverley for harp and piano, is going to be featured on BBC Radio 3’s Words and Music programme on […]
(Originally posted on 31st July) The Liverpool previews of LUDS’ Goblin Market was a resounding success – great reactions from everyone. The 9 track album of all the play’s music can now be downloaded for just £2.50. Harp and Balalaika nestle amongst an eerie forest soundscape. Come buy, come buy!
(Originally posted on 24th July 2013) As has already been mentioned on the blog a while back, I have been working with the award-winning Liverpool University Drama Society and historian/harpist Dr Sarah Peverley on a re-imagination of Christina Rossetti’s dark fairy tale ‘Goblin Market’. The play will feature both live and recorded music composed and […]
(Originally posted on 2nd July 2013) In my third album for RPG masterminds Savage Mojo we travel to Darren Pearce’s golden sands of cyber-pyramids and harsh industrial landscapes where the gods are getting angry (as they tend to). The Set Rising album is 40 minutes of electro-Egyptian beats, along with a full orchestra, designed to […]
(Originally posted on 17th June 2013) I’m writing, recording and performing music for an adapted version of Christina Rossetti’s ‘Goblin Market’ being put on by the award-winning Liverpool University Drama Society. The production will have an eastern European edge to it, with an emphasis on gypsy culture, so I’m bringing out the Balalaika and there […]
(Originally posted 8th June 2013) Dust off your dumbeks and polish your ankhs, there’s some Egyptian adventure sounds heading your way! Set Rising is the upcoming trad-RPG adventure from publishers Savage Mojo and with it comes a 12 track album that answers the question: what would happen if atmospheric electronica and a full size orchestra […]
(Originally posted on 13th May 2013) During the final year of study for my Music degree, I redid the sound effects and music for the Dishonored trailer. I muted the original (cutting off the intro in the jail for brevity) and tried to manipulate the audio so as to create a sinister sounding interpretation of the […]