This CD comes to us all the way from Dublin, Ireland, and it is a cello CD yet not a cello CD! While this most soulful of instruments is predominant throughout, this is seriously deep ambient music, with ample processing, effects, resonance and inviting spaces.
Claire is currently a member of the National Symphony of Ireland, and has been since 1995. Her own studio was set up a little over two years ago, and there began the journey towards this lovely, spatially-inspired CD. Full of layered textures and unusual sounds and timbres, the ten tracks, while on the short side, flow together like watercolors, with equal emphasis on both the wave-like aquatic and bright pastel nature of the musical compositions. Introspective yet expansive, these pieces border on somber tones, and come across as abstract at times.
What do you think a cello made in 1774 and software synthesizers made in 2002 would sound like together? Sound like an inspiring combination? Fitch thought so. She's recorded a beautiful CD blending the smooth haunting sounds of the cello with the organic electronic sounds of the software synthesizer. This music is lyrical, gentle and organic one moment, and hauntingly ethereal and even eerie the next. There are even rhythmic undercurrents that wash through some of the tracks.
We are very pleased to present this title, which broadens our excellent cello dept, already highlighted by Andrea Bauer, David Darling, Jamie Sieber, Lisa Walker, and the versatile Martin Tillman.
Review by Lloyd Barde
