Antoine Beuger - Ockeghem Octets

The Guardian 100

Various artists
(Another Timbre)

Wandelweiser music is typically gradual, intent, whispered, sparse, but not big on nameable passions. Yet what does the Dutch composer and co-founder of the Wandelweiser collective, Antoine Beuger, believe “the art of sounds appearing and disappearing, the art of approximation” is most reminiscent of? Love. Not some cool or cerebral kind of love, either: Ockeghem Octets is part of a series of ensemble pieces (starting with duos and expanding from there) in which musicians play long, soft notes to incredibly tender and sensual effect. The choice of instruments is key, with the warm, reedy warble of concertina, accordion and harmonium given a tactile glow by cello, melodica, e-bowed zither and a pair of low flutes. The ensemble sensibility on this recording is heroically controlled, relaxed and attentive to one another’s breathing and pacing. Individual lines fade in and out to make close dissonances or almost harmonies – it’s gentle, tantalising stuff. Artful approximation indeed.