Cephid’s Sparks in the Darkness Goes Live at Bath’s Rondo Theatre

Best part of a year has passed since Cephid released the groundbreaking electronica album, Sparks in the Darkness. At the time I said of West Lavington’s musician and composer Moray Macdonald’s alter-ego’s masterwork, it was composed of “gorgeous complex structures and intense electronic textures,” and comparing it thus: “like Jean Michel Jarre came after dubstep, as if 808 State created Tubular Bells!” On February 8th 2025, Cephid is coming to life, live at The Rondo Theatre in Bath……

Yeah, so I waffled in the review, from Dadaist Art of Noises to Delia Derbyshire and onto Kraftwerk, but it was hard to describe this album, to convey how technically constructed it was, because while contemporary, we usually associate electronic music with dance music ever since the slapadash rave era. While it’s certainly danceable, it also relies heavily on the ambience of prog and space-rock soundscapes of yore, and creates this timeless classic impossible to pin down.

The show will likely be that rare and unmissable occasion, Moray said he’s “very excited and a little nervous to announce the first ever Cephid live show!” but that he feels, “lucky to have such a great space to perform in, and I’ll be using light shows, projections, and more to bring the album to life.”

Partner Charlotte is producing the show with Nick Beere on sound. Graham Brown of Grace and Fire and The Paradox Twin will be on percussion and keys, and there’s a solo support performance by ex-Enid’s That Joe Payne.

Since releasing Sparks in the Darkness, Moray has spent a lot of time explaining his thought processes while producing it, and remixing Kleptocracy, the new single from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark which charted at number 1 in the Official Vinyl Singles Chart in May. If you’re an OMD fan, or just have the slightest interest in any subgenre of electronic music, this will be an unmissable show.

Tickets are HERE.