NNEKA CUMMINS — Finding Gills (tape)

Nneka Cummins – Finding Gills (Tape) arrives on Nonclassical Records as catalogue NONCLSS071, a cassette release that bridges orchestral gravitas with experimental electronic re-imagining. The work, honoured with an Ivor Classical Award, pairs the original chamber-orchestra composition with a remix that deconstructs and reshapes its material, offering two contrasting yet interlinked perspectives on the same musical source. Within Nonclassical’s catalogue, Finding Gills follows the earlier release Disruptive Frequencies LP (NONCLSS059, 2023), continuing the label’s commitment to boundary-pushing projects that fuse acoustic and electronic realms. This cassette situates itself as a continuation of that exploratory ethos, extending the label’s dialogue between live instrumentation and fixed media. Side A opens with “1: when they try to drown you”, the original orchestral piece commissioned during Cummins’ Artist in Residence tenure and premiered by Sinfonia Smith Square in 2025. The composition unfolds as a measured, immersive soundscape that invites listeners into moments of tension and release, its structure reflecting a narrative of struggle and eventual emergence. The second track, “2: realms and possibilities”, reinterprets the same material through a remix that stretches, warps and reassembles fragments into a fluid electronic form. By dissolving the perceived sacredness of the orchestral source, the remix creates a space for metamorphosis, turning dissonant discomfort into a hopeful, radiant texture. The two sides together illustrate Cummins’ first large-scale engagement with fixed electronics alongside a chamber orchestra, a synthesis that highlights both destruction and creation. The remix’s fluidity contrasts with the original’s structural solidity, offering DJs and listeners a duality that can be exploited for varied set dynamics—whether as a contemplative opener or a transformative closing statement. In the context of Cummins’ output, Finding Gills marks a pivotal moment: a work that draws on fragments of earlier compositions while venturing into new electronic territories. The project’s thematic reference to Drexciya’s Afrofuturist mythology—where descendants of thrown-overboard women adapt to breathe underwater—adds a conceptual layer of alchemy, turning historical horror into a narrative of rebirth and resilience. For DJs, the cassette’s two tracks provide distinct tools. The orchestral A1 works well as a deep, atmospheric intro, its sustained strings and evolving tension suitable for late-night sets that demand emotional depth. The remix on A2, with its reassembled fragments and shifting textures, offers a more kinetic element that can be layered into techno or experimental mixes, allowing for seamless transition between organic and synthetic sound worlds. The release is presented as a 12-inch cassette, the format echoing the analog heritage of both classical recording and electronic experimentation. Its tactile nature reinforces the physicality of the music, inviting collectors to experience the work as a tangible artifact that reflects its dual nature. Nneka Cummins – Finding Gills (Tape), Nonclassical Records, catalogue NONCLSS071, cassette, 2 tracks. Tracklist: A1. Nneka Cummins – 1: when they try to drown you A2. Nneka Cummins – 2: realms and possibilities