Mingle With the Universe: The Worlds of Lord Byron by Eric Andersen
Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 2:51 am
Here's my review, which I posted on Amazon UK tonight:
In September 2015, I had the good fortune to attend a trial performance of Eric Andersen’s musical tribute to Lord Byron, at London’s intimate Green Note café. Here, he was joined by his violin accompanist Michele Gazich. This performance preceded an unveiling of the work, the following day at Lord Byron's ancestral home in Nottingham. Eric imbued the project with such a depth of feeling and integrity that I sensed he had a true affinity with the renowned poet. Uncannily, it seemed that it was his destiny to put Lord Byron’s poems into a contemporary musical setting.
Now, in the spring of 2017, the great work is finally released, and it exceeds my already high expectations. The content, production and musicianship on this album are all of the highest calibre. Included are: There Be None of Beauty’s Daughters, Song To Augusta, She Walks in Beauty, Farewell to a Lady, Childe Harold’s Farewell, Darkness, Mingle With the Universe (Ocean), and Maid of Athens. Also included are two songs of Eric Andersen’s that detail events in Byron’s life; Hail to the Curled Darling and Albion (Byron on the Waves) plus a lyric excerpt, Fifty Times and Taqsim (a stunning instrumental). The CD includes two additional tracks, the excellent When We Two Parted, and So We’ll Go No More a Roving. Eric’s adaption of the latter is different and more up-tempo to earlier musical versions of the poem by the Persian singer Shusha and Eric’s friend Leonard Cohen.
Full credit must be given to all of the musicians who contributed to this remarkable work, including Eric’s wife, Inge who sings backup harmonies throughout, and Giorgio Curcetti, who contributes some wonderful oud playing. The CD is beautifully presented in a colour fold-out sleeve which includes photos of Eric and his musicians, and (on the back) a picture of Lord Byron. Also included is an informative booklet with detailed information and clearly printed lyrics.
In September 2015, I had the good fortune to attend a trial performance of Eric Andersen’s musical tribute to Lord Byron, at London’s intimate Green Note café. Here, he was joined by his violin accompanist Michele Gazich. This performance preceded an unveiling of the work, the following day at Lord Byron's ancestral home in Nottingham. Eric imbued the project with such a depth of feeling and integrity that I sensed he had a true affinity with the renowned poet. Uncannily, it seemed that it was his destiny to put Lord Byron’s poems into a contemporary musical setting.
Now, in the spring of 2017, the great work is finally released, and it exceeds my already high expectations. The content, production and musicianship on this album are all of the highest calibre. Included are: There Be None of Beauty’s Daughters, Song To Augusta, She Walks in Beauty, Farewell to a Lady, Childe Harold’s Farewell, Darkness, Mingle With the Universe (Ocean), and Maid of Athens. Also included are two songs of Eric Andersen’s that detail events in Byron’s life; Hail to the Curled Darling and Albion (Byron on the Waves) plus a lyric excerpt, Fifty Times and Taqsim (a stunning instrumental). The CD includes two additional tracks, the excellent When We Two Parted, and So We’ll Go No More a Roving. Eric’s adaption of the latter is different and more up-tempo to earlier musical versions of the poem by the Persian singer Shusha and Eric’s friend Leonard Cohen.
Full credit must be given to all of the musicians who contributed to this remarkable work, including Eric’s wife, Inge who sings backup harmonies throughout, and Giorgio Curcetti, who contributes some wonderful oud playing. The CD is beautifully presented in a colour fold-out sleeve which includes photos of Eric and his musicians, and (on the back) a picture of Lord Byron. Also included is an informative booklet with detailed information and clearly printed lyrics.