Music / folkemusik

More than one


Reviews (3)


Northern Sky

d. 9. Apr. 2020

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Allan Wilkinson

d. 9. Apr. 2020

"Expressive performances for those who like their string quartet music to swing a little more than that of Schubert ... The bold experimentation found within these songs and tunes speaks for itself, yet it's with the quartet's arrangement of Joe Birchfield's "Sally Ann" that we see the Appalachian folk traditions rubbing shoulders with the minimalist exploits of Terry Riley, with startling effect".


Folk radio UK

d. 6. Apr. 2020

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David Kidman

d. 6. Apr. 2020

"I've rarely if ever come across an ensemble that possesses such a pronounced empathy with - and tremendous expertise in - ostensibly disparate musical sensibilities (I hesitate to use the word "disciplines"), on something of an equal footing as it were: the directly feet-first and "high lonesome" twin poles of the Appalachian old-time experience and the aesthetically formalised, even austere ambit of classical and minimalist chamber music. Here, the inordinate beauty of both musical "camps" melds together inextricably to deliver one of the most enchanting and satisfying albums I'm bound to hear this year".


Songlines

2020 June

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Tom Newell

2020 June

"From the very beginning of this album it is apparent that we are dealing with musicians as equally well-versed in old-time Appalachian stylistics as they are in the finer points of classical technique and chamber performance. There are few things cringier than classically-trained musicians playing outside of their comfort zone, but Idumea dispel any fear of this right from the off, with the kind of sensitivity and groove that comes only from those fully saturated in a genre. Taking the form of a classical string quartet, the sound and approach is reminiscent of folk/classical masters the Danish String Quartet, although Idumea also sing, and the result is something that sounds more like a folk band who happen to form the same line-up as a string quartet, rather than a string quartet who happen to be good at folk music".