Erland Cooper returns with Adoro Te Devote, a new single that blends early recordings of Gregorian chant with strings, tape loops and harmonics from a 1744 cello to create a sound that is both ancient and modern. Written with the “tranquil approval” of his rescue dog, Mirage Morricone, the piece offers a transportive sense of calm, “as if Hildegard von Bingen was having a cup of tea with Satoshi Ashikawa and Brian Eno.”
Across the EP, Cooper combines restored Decca recordings of Benedictine monks with his own sonic worlds, exploring the meditative, spacious qualities of chant and the reflective atmosphere of London’s old churches. He describes the music as bringing “a sense of calm and wonder,” rooted in the human voice, drones and the timelessness of sacred spaces.
Adoro Te Devote is out now, with further singles to follow before the full EP release on February 13.
Cooper also hosts the latest series of BBC Radio 3’s Ultimate Calm, guiding listeners through music shaped by the natural world, with guests from across the arts. Season one features Ian Rankin, Anna Meredith, Sean Shibe, Cosmo Sheldrake, Sally Potter, David Shrigley, Bat for Lashes, Keaton Henson, Mary Lattimore, Hiroshi Ebina, Lara Somogyi and Patrick McDowell. A second series is set to go live on January 5.