A Closer Listen
Spirit reunites Copenhagen composer Anders Lauge Meldgaard with string trio Halvcirkel, following the År & Dag collaboration Fragment 94. But something’s a little different this time; violinist Pernille Kristiansen is on parental leave (congratulations!) and Meldgaard is stepping up on New Ondomo, billed as “a modern Japanese adaptation of the Ondes Martenot.”
Spirit is a perfect name for the album, as it sounds both spirited and spiritual. The title track rises slow as a sunrise but bursts over the horizon in a dazzling array of colors. The stately nature of the trio is offset by the playfulness of Meldgaard, who seems to be imitating steam kettles and creaky doors. A shift arrives at 4:23: now everybody is having fun.
“Fragment 94 Revisited” shows that the players are not yet done with Sappho. The original 34-minute piece allowed ample room for improvisation; the six-minute sequel is a distilled version, launching from the same dock but rowing in a different direction. Meldgaard’s plinks sound like raindrops on the water; the solo strings operate as oars, the joined strings like the undulations of the sea. The musical boat is never in any danger, as the crew demonstrates both proficiency and creativity: new rowing techniques that turn out to be just as effective as the old.
“Sparkle”is a bubble bath of sound, percussive and plucked, appealing to one’s inner child. While the following piece is more melodic, it suggests a folk tale, the New Ondomo sounding very much like its counterpart, the cello a friendly beast tiptoeing around a house, looking for a fresh-basked pie in a windowsill. One of two floral-based tracks, the music also suggests spring, while the two love-inspired pieces (including “Babylove,” perhaps a wink to Kristiansen) swivel and swoon.
In every instance, the players convey a sense of wonder, the natural world transposed into song. The angular compositions reflect the cheerful randomness of life: shoots that appear in surprising places, the variety of sounds a newborn baby can make. And yet, the album also has form, themes converging in the reprise like lessons learned and wisdom gained. It’s over all too quickly, and one doesn’t want it to end. Fortunately, if the set represents the first half-hour of spring, there’s plenty of sparkle left in the season. (Richard Allen)
Thu Mar 13 00:01:23 GMT 2025