Ed Bennett's music – described as 'anarchic' (Irish Times), 'manic' (Classical Music) and 'brutal' (The Guardian) – is performed by Decibel, the ensemble he founded: the haunting My Broken Machines evokes an abandoned fairground, while other works explore the manic energy of cartoons - Cartoon Music - or the atmosphere of an empty building –Ghosts, for amplified viola d'amore.
Garth Knox viola d'amore
Darragh Morgan violin
Paul Roe bass clarinet
Decibel
ConTempo Quartet
Fidelio Trio
AUDIO
REVIEWS
TIME OUT CHICAGO NO.1 BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM OF 2011
'Macho, cock-rock guitar fuzz' Gramophone
'Music for piano trio never sounded like this before ... thrilling' Gramophone
'Powerful ... highly recommended' Musical Criticism
'Intriguing and compelling ... Bennett is a man with his own mind' Musical Pointers
'This is a fine collection of pieces by a composer with a clear vision and a healthy dose of talent. All of the performances and recordings are excellent' MusicWeb International
'This new NMC portrait disc confirms Bennett as composer laureate of the surreal and the embellished' MusicalCriticism.com
'The music of Ed Bennett makes strong statements about taking on, and overcoming, our contemporary challenges.' Journalofmusic.com
FUNDERS
This recording has been produced with substantial support from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire
RECORDING CREDITS
Stop-Motion Music, Cartoon Music and My Broken Machines were recorded in the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire on 28-29 July 2010.
Engineer/ Editor SIMON HALL
Assistant engineers ANDREW MAWSON, KARL BANWELL
Producers SIMON HALL, ED BENNETT
Slow Down was recorded at the Forge, Camden, London on 2 December 2010.
Engineer ADAM CAIRD
Editor SIMON HALL
Producers SIMON HALL, ED BENNETT
for JF was recorded at the Aula Maxima, NUI, Galway, Ireland on 26 July 2010.
Engineer DARBY CARROLL
Editor SIMON HALL
Producers SIMON HALL, ED BENNETT
Monster was recorded at SERC, Bangor, Co. Down, Northern Ireland in April 2006.
Engineer/ Editor/ Producer ED BENNETT
Ghosts was recorded at EMPAC, Troy, New York, USA on 15 November 2009.
Engineer/ Editor TODD VOSS
Producers SIMON HALL, ED BENNETT
Mastering SIMON HALL
Executive Producer for NMC COLIN MATTHEWS
(P) & (C) 2011 NMC Recordings Ltd