26 October 2008
More Reviews
Had some nice reviews for the album....
'This third album from New Zealand-born British composer and former Durutti Column and Duke Quartet member, is a woozy wedding of classical, electronica and ambient. String arranger by rock royalty appointment (Morrissey, The Pretenders, Blur) Metcalfe released his first album in 2004 and the fact this album is released by The Big Chill gives a good indication of where its heart lies. It's a gloriously schizophrenic collection, one minute lazily teasing out notes amid floaty atmospherics (opener Echo Valley), then jack-knifing into a 60's spy thriller set piece, heavy on brass and scratching (A Whole Day Nearer, Undertow). We're seven tracks in, at Nothing More True, before vocals arrive, and even then it's as a looped breathy syllable refracting back on itself. We don't get actual lyrics until an A&R-worrying ten tracks in, on You Call My Name, whose skittering beat mirror downbeat drum'n'bass'n'chillout duo Lamb. A wonderful wrong-footing of a music business built on the selling of vocalists as personalities'.
- Eamonn Forde, The Word
'It seems that every man and his dog wants to be a film composer nowadays. Very few actually know what it takes, let alone have the understanding, poise and ability to create that kind of emotive resonant sound. String specialist and ex-Durutti Cloumn member John Metcalfe however is one such musician'.
- DJ Magazine
'John Metcalfe made his name helping Vini Reilly to construct mesmerisingly ghostly guitar sculptures in the Durutti Column years ago, and has since established himself as one of the top string arrangers in Britain. His third album, though, owes at least as much to electronica as to classical.
One or two tracks engage in sub-Michael Nymanisms, but most of A Darker Sunset is that rare thing: ambient with an edge. Felt, Unseen deploys the repetition techniques of Steve Reich to create an awesomely lovely effect of twilight-after-rain, Parkstone is a dizzying trill of kaleidoscopic piano playing, and the stately beauty of The Shock of Recognition is only marred by an ill-advised synth line that wobbles along the track like a gaudy squiggle across a painting.
It would'e been easy for a man of Metcalfe's gifts to go down the more lucrative road of soporific chillout. Instead, this is imaginative and impressive'.
- Jonathan O'Brien, Sunday Business Post
'This third album from New Zealand-born British composer and former Durutti Column and Duke Quartet member, is a woozy wedding of classical, electronica and ambient. String arranger by rock royalty appointment (Morrissey, The Pretenders, Blur) Metcalfe released his first album in 2004 and the fact this album is released by The Big Chill gives a good indication of where its heart lies. It's a gloriously schizophrenic collection, one minute lazily teasing out notes amid floaty atmospherics (opener Echo Valley), then jack-knifing into a 60's spy thriller set piece, heavy on brass and scratching (A Whole Day Nearer, Undertow). We're seven tracks in, at Nothing More True, before vocals arrive, and even then it's as a looped breathy syllable refracting back on itself. We don't get actual lyrics until an A&R-worrying ten tracks in, on You Call My Name, whose skittering beat mirror downbeat drum'n'bass'n'chillout duo Lamb. A wonderful wrong-footing of a music business built on the selling of vocalists as personalities'.
- Eamonn Forde, The Word
'It seems that every man and his dog wants to be a film composer nowadays. Very few actually know what it takes, let alone have the understanding, poise and ability to create that kind of emotive resonant sound. String specialist and ex-Durutti Cloumn member John Metcalfe however is one such musician'.
- DJ Magazine
'John Metcalfe made his name helping Vini Reilly to construct mesmerisingly ghostly guitar sculptures in the Durutti Column years ago, and has since established himself as one of the top string arrangers in Britain. His third album, though, owes at least as much to electronica as to classical.
One or two tracks engage in sub-Michael Nymanisms, but most of A Darker Sunset is that rare thing: ambient with an edge. Felt, Unseen deploys the repetition techniques of Steve Reich to create an awesomely lovely effect of twilight-after-rain, Parkstone is a dizzying trill of kaleidoscopic piano playing, and the stately beauty of The Shock of Recognition is only marred by an ill-advised synth line that wobbles along the track like a gaudy squiggle across a painting.
It would'e been easy for a man of Metcalfe's gifts to go down the more lucrative road of soporific chillout. Instead, this is imaginative and impressive'.
- Jonathan O'Brien, Sunday Business Post
Labels: A_Darker_Sunset, reviews
A Darker Sunset [2008]
Listen to audio samples
|
The Shock of Recognition A Whole Day Nearer Nothing More True Higher, Lighter Felt, Unseen Copper Beech |
Otama Constant Filter Undertow Echo Valley As She Fell |
Video
First Major Upset
[Quicktime; Warning: This footage contains quickly changing images]
Available to buy now from amazon.co.uk
2010 Spring Events
Peter Gabriel New Blood Tour 2010
John Metcalfe joins Peter Gabriel
in bringing the Scratch My Back
experience to select venues early in 2010. The New Blood tour
features Peter Gabriel, orchestra, no drums, and no guitars.
22 - Paris, Bercy
25 - Berlin O2
27-28 - London O2 Arena
25 - Berlin O2
27-28 - London O2 Arena
Tickets available from
Ticketmaster [CC Hotline: 0844 8560202]
Matthew Barley plays John Metcalfe @ King's Place, Hall One, May 2010
John Metcalfe Band & Matthew Barley
Thu 13 May - 7.30pm
John Metcalfe Band and Matthew Barley
John Metcalfe Band and Matthew Barley
Fri 13 May - 7.30pm
Constant Filter
Matthew Barley performs John Metcalfe compositions with rising star Ashley Wass
Constant Filter
Matthew Barley performs John Metcalfe compositions with rising star Ashley Wass
Sat 15 May - 7.30pm
The Duke Quartet & Matthew Barley
The Duke Quartet & Matthew Barley
Tickets available from King's Place from £9.50
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