New classical music is a tricky thing to categorise. Is this
neo-classical? Contemporary classical? How can it be classical if it's new?
Shall we just call it new music? Confusing. Also, Hywel Davies has a vast
range, veering from the decidedly abstract to more accessible pieces – so where
does his music fit?
I think the answer here is not to worry. Just absorb the
sound. Crisp. Dissonance.
Davies is a composer, sonic artist and installation artist
who is striving to create work of an abstract quality which is open to
interpretation. It's abstract yes, but grounded in emotion. Each note is
delicately and precisely placed because it's important to put those notes
there, not just for mere whimsy.
The tracks in this album have been created over the last decade, so it's more of a collection than a cohesive album. They explore a variety
of themes and preoccupations for Hywel Davies, notably the exploration of
“White-note” music (non-chromatic, diatonic music – probably best you Google
that one) and freediving – as evidenced on Descent which runs for the same
length as one of freediver Tanya Streeter's breaths. Oh, and there's glory here all right. Cold in the Earth is stark beauty, cold strings shivering alone in whispering emptiness. Clearly, this is not music
you'll hear on Radio 1 any time soon.
If you want to dip your toe in new music then this is a good
place to start. The variety of instruments and styles keeps it accessible while
being challenging enough to prompt some serious chin-stroking.
Hywel Davies by Hywel Davies is out on January 14th
through ASC Records
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