British music reviewers stumbled over their own superlatives in trying to describe Night Walks, the debut album of Hidden Orchestra, formerly known as the Joe Acheson Quartet. The group from Edinburgh (bassist Acheson, pianist Poppy Ackroyd and drummers Tim Lane and Jamie Graham) already enjoyed a solid reputation for live performances due to the energy of their act. But Acheson wanted more: he dreamed of an orchestral sound. Thanks to a subsidy from the Scottish government, Acheson was able to make his dream a reality: an orchestral recording that is both experimental and accessible, with the energy and pulsating beats of electronic music and the atmosphere and warmth of acoustic jazz and old films. The group released the album last fall. Acheson recorded Night Walks with his quartet, assisted by the guest contributions of jazz and folk musicians, and a load of electronics. Hidden Orchestra appeals to an eclectic fanbase. Only logical given the group's 'ratatouille' of influences: from Debussy to Radiohead, and from Madlib to Gene Krupa.
