Martin Archer

Archer played in the saxophone quartet Hornweb that released Kinesis (1986), Sixteen (1987) and Universe Works (1989).

Transient v Resident was a collaboration with synthesist Chris Bywater that marked Archer's venture into computer improvisation, as documented on Broken to be More Beautiful (1993) Four Static Music Examples (1994) and especially Electrical Shroud (1996).

Archer also founded Angel High Wires with Julie Tippetts.

88 Enemies (june 1997) was a solo work for digital piano and electronics

Winter Pilgrim Arriving (2000) was a tribute of sorts to progressive-rock of the 1970s.

The four-disc Ghost Lily Cascade (january 1996), on which he played both electronics and sopranino saxophone, and Pure Water Construction (1999), a collaboration with Simon Fell, were electroacoustic studio collages of live improvisations.

Archer also started the project Combat Astronomy.

Masayo Asahara, the alter-ego for avant-jazz musician Martin Archer, released an album of drone-jazz-rock fusion, Saint Agnes Fountain (2002).

Heritage And Ringtones (2004)

Inclusion Principle was a duo with Hervé Perez that recorded the digital and electronic performance The Leaf Factory Fallback (september 2009) on which Archer played software instruments, organ, sopranino & baritone saxes while Perez was in charge of field recordings, sound design, laptop and soprano sax.

Archer also recorded two duo albums with vocalist Julie Tippetts: Ghosts of Gold (2008) and the double-CD Tales of FiNiN, featuring a chamber combo.

Venturing further into digital music, Archer formed Outward Sound Ensemble, that debuted with the live Cloudburst (june 2003). The sound was dominated by table-top guitar and sound effects. Another live performance was documented on Thunder In A Clear Sky (2005), a collaboration with Mick Beck on bassoon, Chris Meloche on table-top guitar, Nick Robinson on guitar and loops, Herb Bailey on trombone and cornet, Charlie Collins on vibraphone.

The double CD In Stereo Gravity (recorded between 2005 and 2008) collects Archer collaborations with Julie Tippetts (voice), Chris Cutler (drum loops), Charlie Collins (drums and percussion), Dave Kane (double bass), Terry Todd (bass guitar), and guitar-duo Karl D'Silva/James Archer.

Serpentine (2012) was another collaboration with Julie Tippetts.

Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere (2012) was one of his most ambitious projects, featuring Chris Bywater (organ, synthesizers, laptop, acoustic and electronic percussion, electric violin), Radio Massacre International's drummer Steve Dinsdale (also on synthesizer), Walt Shaw (percussion, electronics) and Terry Todd (bass guitar).

Engine Room Favourites debuted with Blue Meat, Black Diesel & Engine Room Favourites (Discus, 2013), featuring four percussionists (Peter Fairclough, Walt Shaw, Johnny Hunter and Steve Dinsdale) and a reed trio (Archer on bass clarinet, sopranino, alto & baritone saxes, Kim Macari on trumpet and Lee Hallam on trombone), plus Seth Bennett on bass, Laura Cole on piano, Corey Mwamba on vibraphone and Graham Clark on violin.

Martin Archer's Engine Room Favourites of Bad Tidings From Slackwater Drag (2015) featured Mick Beck on tenor sax and bassoon, Laura Cole on piano, Corey Mwamba on vibraphone, Graham Clark on violin, Seth Bennett on double bass, and finally Peter Fairclough, Walt Shaw, Johnny Hunter and Steve Dinsdale on drums and percussion.

Echoic Enchantment (Discus, 2015) contains a suite for large ensemble composed and recorded between summer 2013 and spring 2015.

A sextet performed on the six lengthy pieces of Story Tellers (Discus, 2016): Mick Somerset (concert and ethnic flutes, bass clarinet, harmonium, shaman drums, bells , rattles, musette), Kim Macari Stone-Lonergan (trumpet), Corey Mwamba (vibraphone), Anton Hunter (guitar and electronics) and Peter Fairclough (drums and percussion).

Sunshine Quartet (october 2016), consisting of Corey Mwamba (vibraphone), Seth Bennett (double bass) and Peter Fairclough (drums), delivered four lengthy improvisations (notably the 20-minute It's Not Finnished).

Felicity's Ultimatum (? 2016) featured Graham Clark (violin), Stephen Grew (piano) and Johnny Hunter (drums).

Archer played organ, electric piano, electronics, Eb saxophones, clarinets, and VST trumpet on the Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere's double-disc ?2 along with: Chris Bywater (organ, synthesizers & electronics, samples, percussion, voice, electric violin); Steve Dinsdale (drums, floor percussion, synthesizer); Frostlake (voice, electronics, glockenspiel); Yvonna Magda (electric violin, loops, electronics); Walt Shaw (percussion, voice, electronics); Terry Todd (bass guitar, effects, voice); Mick Somerset (concert, alto and bamboo flutes, Bb saxophones); Paul Schatzberger and Heather Cordwell (violin); Aby Vulliamy (viola); Angela Rosenfeld (cello), and the choir Juxtavoices. The album includes the 26-minute The Breaking Of Bonds and The Rearrangement Of Atoms and the 23-minute Potent Lunation.

The Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere returned with the double-disc 03 (Discus, 2017), collecting 20 pieces recorded between 2015 and 2017. The ensemble featured Chris Bywater (keyboards, electronics, laptop, percussion, voice, violin), Steve Dinsdale (electronic drum kit, keyboards), female songstress Frostlake (voice, electronics and viola), Yvonna Magda (violin, electronics), Walt Shaw (percussion, electronics, voice), Terry Todd (bass guitar), George Murray (trombone), Paul Schatzberger (violin) and Aby Vulliamy (viola).

Archer formed Deep Tide with Kim Macari (trumpet), Laura Cole (piano) and Walt Shaw (percussion and live electronics). They released the double-disc See One, Do One, Teach One (may 2017).

The Engine Room Favourites returned with Safety Signal From A Target Town (march 2017). The lineup was: Mick Beck (tenor sax and bassoon), Seth Bennett (bass), Graham Clark (violin), Laura Cole (piano), Steve Dinsdale and Walt Shaw (both on percussion), Peter Fairclough and Johnny Hunter (both on drums), Kim Macari (trumpet), George Murray (trombone), Corey Mwamba (vibraphone) and Riley Stone Lonergan (tenor sax and clarinet).

The Sincerity Of Light (2018) was a collaboration with Chris Meloche (guitar, electronics), Gino Robair (percussion, electronics) and Lyn Hodnett (voice) .

Archer's Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere of 04 (recorded in 2017-2018) ewas a sextet with Jan Todd (on vocals, lyrics, electronics, celtic harp, lute harp, korg wave drum, keyboards, bowed electroacoustic bass, idiopan), Yvonna Magda (on violin and electronics), Walt Shaw (on acoustic percussion, electronics and voice), and Terry Todd (on bass and electroacoustic bass guitars).

Das Rad, a trio formed in 2016 by Martin Archer (saxes, clarinets, flutes, recorder, melodica, keyboards, electronics and synth bass), Nick Robinson (guitars and electronics) and Steve Dinsdale (electric drums, synth and percussion), debuted on album with Das Rad (march 2018)

Axis' Les Oiseaux De Matisse (july 2018) features Archer (on reeds and electronics), saxophonist Ron Caines (formerly of East Of Eden), Laura Cole (grand piano and electric piano), Gus Garside (double bass), Johnny Hunter (drums), Herve Perez (live sound processing, shakuhachi) and Graham Clark (violin, electric guitar). The following day Axis recorded Dream Feathers (july 2018) in a slightly different configuration: Archer (bass clarinet, organ, electronics, horn section), Caines (soprano, alto and tenor saxes), Cole (acoustic and electric pianos, harmonium), Perez (field recordings, electronics, sound design, sound processing), Anton Hunter (guitar, electronics), Garside (double bass) and Johnny Hunter (drums).

Archer's first solo, Another Fantastic Individual (Discus, 2019), contains music for baritone, tenor, alto & sopranino saxes, saxello, bass clarinet, flute, recorder, melodica, acoustic and sampled percussion, software instruments, electronics and keyboards.

The double-disc Anthropology Band documents two line-ups of Martin Archer's Anthropology Band, recorded in two different sessions (september 2018 and april 2019). The first session featured the core septet: Charlotte Keeffe on trumpet and flugelhorn; Chris Sharkey on guitar and electronics; Pat Thomas on keyboards and electronics; Corey Mwamba on vibraphone; Dave Sturt on bass guitar; Peter Fairclough on drums. The second session added a brass nonet: Kim Macari (trumpet), George Murray (trombone), Ben Higham (tuba), Mick Somerset (concert, alto and bass flutes, piccolo), Nathan Bettany (oboe and cor anglais), and the sax quartet of James Mainwaring (soprano), Hannah Brady (alto), Riley Stone-Lonergan (tenor) and Alicia Gardener-Trejo (baritone).

Das Rad returned with Adios Al Futuro (august 2019).

The double-disc Vestigium (recorded between 2013 and 2014) documents a collaboration with Julie Driscoll-Tippetts (voice & acoustic guitar), Seth Bennett (double bass), Gary Houghton (lead, rhythm & glissando guitars), Michael Somerset Ward (flutes, & saxes), Kim Macari (trumpet), Lee Hallam (trombone), Chris Bywater (laptop), James Archer (electronics), Michael McMillan (guitar), Heather Cordwell (violin), Aby Vulliamy (viola) and Mick Bardon (cello).

Archer's Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere returned with Theta Five (recorded in october 2019 and august 2020), which contains the 42-minute Pillared Space. He played saxes, clarinet, flute, organ, mellotron, software instruments, voices and was accompanied by Steve Dinsdale (drums, synths), Lorin Halsall (double bass, electric upright bass, electronics), Yvonna Magda (violin, electronics), Andy Peake (rhodes, synths), Walt Shaw (percussion, electronics), Jan Todd (vocals, voices, lyrics, harps, electronics, laptop, midi keys, bowed acoustic bass guitar, glockenspiel, 12 string guitar, Korg wave drum, Idiopan) and Terry Todd (electric bass guitar, acoustic 12 string guitar).

Inclusion Principle returned with The 4, The 8, The 10 (2021) a collaboration with sound artist Hervé Perez, notably the 35-minute Ornament Of Light. Archer played saxes, clarinet, flute, recorder, chimes, organ, electric piano, synth and software instrument. Perez played field recording, keyboards electronics, saxes and shakuhachi. Hi Res Heart (march 2021) documents a collaboration between Archer (on saxes, clarinets, flute, bass harmonica, electronics), Martin Pyne (drums, percussion, vibraphone, toy piano), and Charlotte Keeffe (trumpet, flugelhorn, electronics).

Provenance (june 2021) documents a collaboration between Martin Archer (sopranino, saxello, alto, tenor & baritone saxophones, flute, bass harmonica) and John Jasnoch (electric guitar, acoustic 12 string guitar, lap steel guitar, mandolin, banjo, oud, ukulele).

Das Rad returned with Laik Tors (Discus, 2021), recorded during the covid pandemic by Nick Robinson (guitars, keys, electronics), Martin Archer (woodwinds, keys, synth bass, electronics), and Steve Dinsdale (drums, electronics).

The third collaboration between Ron Caines and Martin Archer under their Axis moniker, Port Of Saints (recorded between august 2020 and september 2021) contains three multi-movement suites with the collaboration of Johnny Hunter (drums), Gus Garside (bass), Archer (baritone & ensemble saxophones, organ, Rhodes, electronics), Hervé Perez (soundscapes, processing, electronics), Chris Sharkey (guitar & electronics), Byron Wallen (trumpet), Graham Clark (violin), Ben Higham (tuba) and Corey Mwamba (vibraphone & electronics).

Archer also formed a trio with Michael Bardon on double bass and cello and Walt Shaw on percussion to record See You Soon Or See You Sometime (Discus, 2022) (august 2021), containing the 15-minute See You Soon Or See You Sometime.

The Forensic Trio with Johnny Hunter (drums, percussion, glockenspiel) and Pat Thomas (Grand Piano and keyboards) is documented on Heartless (september 2021), containing four improvisations, notably the 25-minute Heartless Heartless Rotten State.

He also led Army of Briars, documented on Army of Briars (recorded between 2005 and 2007) and Made From A Broken Star (march 2022).

A quartet with John Jasnoch (bass guitar), Sarah Farmer (violin and electronics) and Lee Boyd Allatson (drums and percussion) recorded Wasp Honey (Discus, 2022), including the 17-minute Troop.

The double-disc set Illusion (Discus, 2022) was a collaboration between vocalist Julie Tippetts and Archer (keyboards, electronics, radio waves, saxophone, clarinet), accompanied by a 24-musician ensemble. The album is split between the 64-minute 13-song suite Circle of Whispers and the 74-minute seven-movement Illusion Suite.

The Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere returned with 06 (recorded between july 2022 and january 2023) features Yvonna Magda on violin & electronics, Jan Todd on vocals, Celtic harp, laptop, samples, Andy Peake on piano & keyboards, Lorin Halsall & Terry Todd acoustic & electric basses and Steve Dinsdale on drums & keyboards.

Das Rad's fourth album Veer (recorded between 2020 and 2023) featured a quintet with the addition of Jon Short (bass guitar) and Peter Rophone (vocals) and contains the 25-minute six-movement Expergefactor.

Blutopia (Discus, 2023) was another collaboration with fellow saxophonist Ron Caines and includes the 13-minute Ancient and Modern. They were accompanied by Laura Cole (piano), Charlotte Keefe (trumpet), Chris Sharkey (electric guitar), Graham Clark (violin), Gus Garside (double bass) and Johnny Hunter (drums).

The Eclectic Maybe Band, featuring Guy Segers, Dirk Descheemaeker on bass clarinet, Michel Delville on guitar, Julie Tippetts on vocals, Art Zoid's Thierry Zaboitzeff on cello, Dirk Wachtelaer on drums, Forrest Fang on processed violin, Dave Newhouse (the Muffins), and many others recorded Bars Without Measures (Discus, 2023), composed by Guy Segers (of Univers Zero), mostly by interacting remotely over the Internet,

From The Rough Hill (2023) documents a new project, Fjall, featuring Martin Archer on flutes, clarinets, recorders, harmonicas, soprano sax, percussion & electronics, Jan Todd on baritone psaltery, electric & cross-strung harps, waterphone, tagelharpa, flute, cello, electronics & field recordings, Fran Comyn on frame drums, cymbals, bells, bowls & hand percussion and Richard Jackson drums & percussion.

Axis returned with Practical Dreamers (october 2023), on which Archer played bass and Bb clarinets, flute, tuned percussion, electronics, whistles and harmonica, flanked by Ron Caines (alto and soprano saxes), Hervé Perez (laptop, sound processing), Laura Cole (piano), Anton Hunter (electric guitar, electronics), Michael Bardon (cello), Gus Garside (double bass) and Johnny Hunter (drums).

Das Rad returned with Funfair (april 2024).

Martin Archer plays various woodwinds and keyboards on Private View (recorded between 2022 and 2024), a collaboration with Jan Todd (harps and vocals).