Hidden Orchestra is the solo studio project of Joe Acheson – a composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, sound artist, remixer and documentary-maker, who has musically collaborated with The British Library, National Trust, BBC, IRCAM (Paris), Amanita Design (Prague), Eden Project, Kew Gardens, Saatchi Gallery, Sydney Botanical Gardens and many more.
With the Hidden Orchestra project, Joe creates an imaginary orchestra compiled from individual recordings of a diverse array of musicians and found sounds, often writing short solo and chamber pieces entirely for the purpose of sampling them. He uses production techniques from sample-based music to compose Electronic/Classical music, acoustic instruments, and real-world sounds (from rain and birdsong through to industrial and mechanical noises); resulting in orchestral textures and field recording soundscapes driven by complex drum arrangements and deep bass.
In 2020, Joe released his soundtrack to the game Creaks. Five years in the making, the music in the game is generative, randomised, and infinite. (The OST takes just 21 of the 100+ pieces in the game, and turns them into traditional ‘fixed’ versions of the tracks.)
On 22nd September 2023, Hidden Orchestra released the new album To Dream Is To Forget. Released via Acheson’s own newly formed Lone Figures imprint, the musical direction for the record involved a concerted effort to condense musical themes and ideas into more immediate arrangements, with less utilisation of field recordings than previously released material.
The live band version of Hidden Orchestra has toured extensively around the world with a constantly fluctuating lineup and innovative live visuals, and is equally at home in festivals, clubs, cinemas, museums, churches and concert halls – from Glastonbury to the Royal Albert Hall. They tour UK & Europe in October / November, kicking the tour off with a live date at London’s EartH on 21st October.