Ed Bennett: Psychedelia

Listen on Presto Music. Free thirty day trial. Find out more.

It’s not rare these days for composers to engage with pop and rock (cf Turnage’s Beyoncé quotes), but it is rare to hear that influence used with such sensitivity and intelligence…Bennett’s voice... — Gramophone Magazine, January 2021 More…

Release Date: 23rd Oct 2020
Catalogue No: NMCD257
Label: NMC
Length: 78 minutes

In stock

Usually despatched within 1 working day

Bennett, E: Freefalling

Work length10:08

$1.50

$3.85

$5.25

RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
David Brophy

Bennett, E: Song of the Books

Work length28:07

Album only

$7.75

$10.50

Kate Ellis (cello), Ed Bennett (electronics)
Decibel
Daniele Rosina

Track length6:48

Album only

$1.30

$1.75

II.

Track length12:05

$2.05

$3.85

$5.25

III.

Track length9:14

$1.50

$2.60

$3.50

Bennett, E: Psychedelia

Work length17:54

$1.00

$5.15

$7.00

RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
David Brophy

Bennett, E: Organ Grinder

Work length14:05

$2.05

$3.85

$5.25

Orkest de Ereprijs
Wim Boerman

Bennett, E: Magnetic

Work length7:53

$1.50

$2.60

$3.50

Jack McNeill (bass clarinet), Eliza McCarthy (piano)

About
Reviews
Explore

About

Irish composer Ed Bennett was born in Bangor, Co.Down. His music, which has been described in the press as 'anarchic' (Irish Times), 'stunningly intense' (The Quietus) and 'thrilling' (Gramophone) is often characterized by its strong rhythmic energy, extreme contrasts and the combination of acoustic, electronic and multimedia elements; it was described in The Guardian as 'unclassifiable, raw-nerve music of huge energy and imagination'

This new album focuses on a number of Bennett's larger-scale works. In Freefalling ? inspired by Felix Baumgartner's 2012 world-record freefall ? the music plays on the sense of falling at high speed. The sound is propulsive and heaving, with hammering cymbals, drums, brass and strings. It's an exciting and intense ride!

The title piece, Psychedelia, was premiered in 2017 by the RT? National Symphony Orchestra with Thomas Ad?s conducting. It builds slowly from a solo violin open E string, to a whole orchestra 'losing itself in a sea of rotating pulses and patterns'.

Bennett's own ensemble Decibel perform Song of the Books for solo cello, electronics and amplified ensemble. It uses the Irish traditional air Amhr?n na Leabhar as its basis, which laments the loss of a cherished collection of books belonging to poet Tom?s Rua ? S?illeabh?in (1785-1848). Magnetic is a buzzing and fizzing 8-minute essay for bass clarinet and prepared piano, and closing the album is the bombastic Organ Grinder for midi organ and an ensemble of brass, wind, percussion, and electric and bass guitars.

Reviews

January 2021

It’s not rare these days for composers to engage with pop and rock (cf Turnage’s Beyoncé quotes), but it is rare to hear that influence used with such sensitivity and intelligence…Bennett’s voice is unmistakably distinctive, one of the most interesting in the current UK scene.

25th October 2020

The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and David Brophy give tenacious accounts of two pieces by the Irish composer Ed Bennett: Psychedelia, which builds to a surreally transformed state, and the granite-like Freefalling...Deeply compelling music.

Ed Bennett: Psychedelia

CD

Downloads

Contents

Download queue