Tansy Davies: spine

In her recent work, Davies has found an accommodation between the worlds of the avant-garde and experimental rock, between – in the words of one critic – Xenakis and Prince. Filled with sounds of cracking, slapping, whipping and scraping, it is music that is utterly contemporary, inhabiting the same urban landscape as industrial techno and electronica.

The works on this new recording include make black white, a reconstruction of Dowland’s Flow, My Tears performed by viol consort Concordia; the ritualistic Dark Ground for percussion (Joby Burgess); Loopholes and Lynchpins, a reworking – or unravelling even – of Scarlatti's keyboard sonata (Huw Watkins) and the title work, spine, performed by Azalea and inspired by the composer's interest in trilobites.

 

BCMG
Azalea
Christopher Austin, conductor
Concordia
Samuel Boden, tenor
Joby Burgess, percussion
Simon Haram, saxophone
Darragh Morgan, violin
Huw Watkins, piano

AUDIOREVIEWS

‘An absorbing if disc… those who already have the earlier Davies disc should acquire forthwith’ Gramophone

'It's hard to think of another British composer whose rise through the hierarchy of British music has been so rapid, fuelled by high-profile commissions. As this disc shows, her music is at its most compelling when it creates vivid textures, drawing on rock and pop idioms to give it edge and pungency'  Guardian

‘a great portrait CD compilation of works from the first decade of our musically wonderful new century, by our great composer (Tansy Davies, b. 1973) who never repeats herself’ Musical Pointers

'Tansy Davies’ music, held together in an awkward, gritty tension that allows for both emotional depth & unrestrained exuberance.' 5:4

FUNDERS

NMC is grateful to the RVW Trust and to BCMG's Sound Investment scheme for supporting this recording.

RECORDING CREDITS

Falling Angel and Iris were recorded live at the CBSO Centre, Birmingham on 5 December 2010.

Recording Producer & Engineer: DAVID LEFEBER

spine, Dark Ground and Loure were recorded at Coombehurst Studio, University of Kingston on 12-14 September 2011.

Recording Producer & Digital Editing: NICOLA MORO
Recording Engineer: SEBASTIAN LEXER
Studio Manager: TARIK ECH-CHARIF

Static / This Love and Loopholes and Lynchpins were recorded at the CBSO Centre, Birmingham on 26 May 2012; and make black white was recorded at The Menuhin Hall, Yehudi Menuhin School, Surrey on 10 June 2012.

Recording Producer & Engineer: DAVID LEFEBER
Mastering: DAVID LEFEBER
Executive Producer for NMC: COLIN MATTHEWS

(P) 2012 NMC Recordings Ltd
© 2012 NMC Recordings Ltd

Catalogue number: NMC D176
Release Date: 3 September 2012