EDM Goes 'Acoustic' with Above and Beyond

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The popular EDM music act made up of Jono Grant, Tony McGuinness, and Paavo Siljamäki, better known as Above and Beyond, is venturing into new music with their Above & Beyond Acoustic album. The album will include some of the trios most loved songs and studio recordings from their acoustic shows at London's Porchester Hall, and LA's Greek Theatre. Being one of the UK’s biggest dance acts, they have remixed artists from Madonna to Radiohead, and even provided the soundtrack for the launch of Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo.

Transitioning into a new sound from their normal realm of dancy beats, the trio wants to show off their musicianship and classical training. The acoustic album features the trio alongside three singers, a string quartet, harpist, drummer and bassist.

“The more focus there is on the music in our genre, I think the better for all of us, because I think there is feeling that a lot of what’s been done in electronic dance music is kind of slightly soulless or heartless, or whatever you might like to say,” said band member Tony McGuinness.

The album was released to the number one spot on iTunes, with Billboard describing the album as "Orchestral and ethereal while still rooted in the world of electronica.” Electronic producer Tom Middleton also compares the albums sound to the likes of ambient pop artists Zero 7 and Air.

“…After rock music, really the one kind of music that young people are into that their parents were not into, and as such its created an electronic music generation of people all around the world, and I think when something that big happens, it won’t go away, it’s going to keep evolving…” said Paavo Siljamäki. To find out more about the new acoustic album and Above and Beyond, check out the video above.

Click HERE to buy the Above & Beyond Acoustic studio album on iTunes and to watch their full concert film go to www.thump.vice.com/abacoustic.