Patina
Deutsche Grammophon, 2021
8/10
The producer, composer and cellist Peter Gregson makes this 5th album a highly unique effort, where a string ensemble, piano, cello and electronics blur the lines of electronica and classical sounds and are intended for Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio Listening.
Gregson starts the listen with much ambience, where his stunning cello skills lend itself to a dreamy, absorbing delivery of unimaginable beauty on “Hidden”, and the title track follows with a warm and intimate delivery, where the manipulated strings tell a reflective story without any words.
Elsewhere, “Sense” sprinkles in gentle keys that mesh well with the stirring strings and charming synth, while “Cluster” flows amid a glowing cinematic quality that pairs light electronics with agile string work.
Approaching the end, “Schema” builds into a lush, cathartic exploration of stunning textures, and “Over” cultivates the most romantic selection, where Gregson’s creativity offers much adventurousness as well as restraint in the most meticulous way possible.
Gregson uses his cello as his voice here, and essentially rewrites what classical music entails, as the esteemed film and television soundtrack artist explores the theme of absence with his atypical view of timbre, tone and structure that help make Patina such a memorable listen.
Travels well with: Seong-Jin Cho- Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 Scherzi; Lucas Meachem- Shall We Gather