Staff Reviews

Matthew Bourne - Montauk Variations

Review by Jon Falcone

Montauk Variations is an album that charges gracefully through piano and string compositions, using rotations to bring out an endless series of variances to seemingly unmoving patterns and occasionally flitting to overt virtuoso performance.»

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matthew bourne is the latest signing to the leaf label, and 'montauk variations' is his first ever solo studio album. a phenomenal live performer, bourne brings a breathtaking physicality to the piano that, once witnessed, is hard to forget. a genuinely unique pianist and composer, whose music straddles jazz, classical and rock, bourne uses every imaginable technique to wring the last drop of inspiration from his chosen instrument. montauk variations represents something of a change of direction for him - an album of beautiful, lyrical solo piano compositions, punctuated by visceral percussive pieces. the album was recorded in the great hall at dartington college, devon in may 2011, with additional recordings at st margaret's rectory in manchester and rebel elements studio close to his yorkshire home. a restless, endlessly exploratory musician, don't expect him to stand still - this is the first in a series of albums under the 'matthew bourne presents' banner, with future releases to include an audio-visual project recorded with his beloved memorymoog analogue synthesizer, and an album with vocalist seaming to under the name billy moon.
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