Biography
English duo Masal weave harp, theremin, found sounds, and assorted electronics into elaborate instrumental soundscapes. Their initial full-length release, the 2020 album Charity Shop, preceded a partnership with shoegaze pioneer Andy Bell that produced the 2023 collaborative effort Tidal Love Numbers.
Harpist Ozlem Simsek and electronic musician Al Johnson form the group. Simsek spent her Turkish childhood immersed in classical harp studies while simultaneously exploring additional instruments. Johnson, who earlier produced psychedelic electronic music as Alien, joined forces with Simsek after her move to England, where the pair discovered shared enthusiasm for ambient electronic music alongside international sounds.
The duo issued their earliest recordings in 2020, opening with the two-song EP Sunday, Hope Lost before issuing Charity Shop soon afterward. That album appeared in digital editions together with an extremely limited lathe-cut LP pressing. During 2022, Masal supported Ride co-founder Andy Bell at one of his solo performances; afterward the musicians discussed their shared admiration for the meditative qualities of Pharoah Sanders and Floating Points’ joint album Promises. Building on that exchange, Masal and Bell crafted wandering instrumental explorations reminiscent of Promises’ reflective atmosphere and collected them on the 2023 album Tidal Love Numbers. The recording contained only four lengthy pieces whose unusually extended titles drew inspiration from Felt’s characteristically wordy approach, aiming to embed abundant emotional imagery within largely wordless compositions.
Harpist Ozlem Simsek and electronic musician Al Johnson form the group. Simsek spent her Turkish childhood immersed in classical harp studies while simultaneously exploring additional instruments. Johnson, who earlier produced psychedelic electronic music as Alien, joined forces with Simsek after her move to England, where the pair discovered shared enthusiasm for ambient electronic music alongside international sounds.
The duo issued their earliest recordings in 2020, opening with the two-song EP Sunday, Hope Lost before issuing Charity Shop soon afterward. That album appeared in digital editions together with an extremely limited lathe-cut LP pressing. During 2022, Masal supported Ride co-founder Andy Bell at one of his solo performances; afterward the musicians discussed their shared admiration for the meditative qualities of Pharoah Sanders and Floating Points’ joint album Promises. Building on that exchange, Masal and Bell crafted wandering instrumental explorations reminiscent of Promises’ reflective atmosphere and collected them on the 2023 album Tidal Love Numbers. The recording contained only four lengthy pieces whose unusually extended titles drew inspiration from Felt’s characteristically wordy approach, aiming to embed abundant emotional imagery within largely wordless compositions.
Albums
Singles
