Strange Waves by Kate Ellis & Ed Bennett

Ergodos is proud to announce the release of "Strange Waves", an enveloping new record from cellist Kate Ellis and composer Ed Bennett. A large-scale work in six parts, "Strange Waves" blends music for eight cellos with field recordings made on the County Down coast and on Ireland’s northernmost island, Rathlin, in the North Atlantic.

The music unfolds with an extraordinary sense of inevitability: Dense constellations of rapid figures evolve into rich, swirling synth-like textures. Ravishing microtonal sonorities overlap hypnotically with the steady pulse of lapping waves. Surreal chorales are revealed slowly, deliberately – at once mysterious and reassuringly, uncommonly elegant.

Kate Ellis on the evolution of the project:

"This record began with an email in my inbox from Ed early in 2020 saying: 'I'm dabbling with a piece at the moment for 8 multi tracked cellos... I’m thinking quite big, and it could be record in itself with multiple movements...' Ed sent a first draft of the score in June of 2020. The music he had created was immensely beautiful and resonated strongly with the strange sense of calm and slowing of time that I was experiencing and so began the recording of ideas between lockdowns. The final recording of the piece took place between May and June of this year at home in Crumlin, Dublin."

Ed Bennett on the inspiration for the work:

"Growing up by the Irish sea, the sound of waves has been ever present in my life and in recent years has found its way into the music. At first, I didn’t notice this, but as I started to hear overlapping textures and loops in my work, I realised that there was something about this seemingly endless quality I was seeking."

"Strange Waves" can be performed by a soloist with seven pre-recorded parts or as a live octet. On this recording all eight parts are performed with extraordinary poise and precision by Kate Ellis. This record marks a major statement from two of Ireland’s most dynamic and prolific contemporary music practitioners.

The music on this record was written and developed with financial assistance from the PRS Foundation and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The record was produced with support from the Royal College of Music, London, and Arts Grant funding from the Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon.

To mark the album launch, Kate Ellis and Ed Bennett will present a live performance of "Strange Waves" in Café OTO, London, on 3 October 2023. See https://www.cafeoto.co.uk/

Ergodos is a record label based in Dublin, Ireland. info@ergodos.ie

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