Darkflower
Redshift, 2023
8/10
The Toronto composer Linda Catlin Smith is aligned with the Canadian chamber outfit Thin Edge Music Collective for these 6 contemporary classical pieces.
The lovely “Wanderer” opens the listen with Anthony Thompkins’ clarinet, Ilana Waniuk’s violin and Amahl Arulanadam’s cello providing much warmth and atmosphere for Cheryl Duvall’s graceful piano, and “Duo For Two Cellos” follows with Arulanadam and Dobrochna Zubek’s bowing techniques emitting much beauty and sophistication.
The title track and “Dreamer Murmuring” land in the middle, where the former showcases Duvall’s emotive keys that suit Arulanadam’s stirring violin, while the latter carries a hint of mystery via the distinct dreaminess of the keys, violin and cello.
The final 2 tracks are among the best, where “With Their Shadows Long” meshes Duvall’s gentle piano with Waniuk’s gripping violin, and “Unbroken, For Howard Skempton” exits with solo piano, which illustrates Duvall’s fluid and heartfelt progressions.
A collaboration that assembles 3 never before released pieces and a commissioned track, the profound attention to timing, melody and harmonics works well in both sparse settings and experimental bouts of modern classical.
Travels well with: James Rolfe- Wound Turned To Light; Christopher Whitley- Describe Yourself