Quiet waves on the shores of scarcity
Black Eagle Child | Wisconsin | 06/27/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The title of this album is pristinely apt.
This is my first experience with the artist Colleen and I am completely hooked by the sound exhibited on this record. Every track begins gently and builds itself into a beautiful mixture of despair and apprehension. The album itself isn't depressing, but (and you ought to be able to tell this from the cover) it is perceivable that the music is designed to be taken seriously and listened to closely.
If you are expecting impressive technique or wild performances, you may be disappointed. Where "Les Ondes Silencieuses" succeeds most is in the texture and emotion of every piece of sound. The layers of orchestration are put down slowly, so as to build apprehension. First a cello, then a guitar, then a clarinet, etc. Even moments in which little sound is made are important. With this scarcity, Colleen draws up in her listeners a desire for more texture, another wave of emotion. The record oscillates between peaks of overwhelming feeling.
This is really a fine piece of neo-classical music and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for instrumental music that you can really listen to. This is not background music!"