A diverse collection of Bates' composition & performing
flip phillips | saratoga springs, ny USA | 09/11/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a really wonderful collection of diverse Bates' works, performed by a variety of ensembles including Bates' Human Chain, The Apollo Saxophone Quartet, London Sinfonietta, and the Smith Quartet. "Three English Scenes", "Pond Life", and "Travel Cartoons for the Blind" are certainly highlights, the latter being my personal favorite, painting a dramatic set of mental images that live up to their name. "Candles Still Flicker In Romania's Dark" and "Horses In Rain" also deserve special mention. "Candles" is a quiet, contemplative piece (originally written for Bill Bruford's Earthworks, of which Bates was a member) featuring a tear-rendering performance by Bates on E flat horn. "Horses" features a similarly emotive vocal performance by Norwegan Sidsel Endresen.All in all this is a really wonderful collection of the Bates ouvre and I couldn't recomend it more highly (not to mention that I always wanted to use the word ouvre in a review)."