Reviews - Riverside 21/2/05
which together offer a meditation on the difficulties of love and relationships. His music’s directness of expression suited the subject matter admirably, and his subtle and unpredictable melodies were sensitive to the poets’ voices. The standout moment was the spare setting of Wendy Cope’s "at 3 am", which brought out the poem’s quiet desperation with effective economy. Claron McFadden was excellent, coquettish and despondent by turns, filling the vignettes with human warmth. The recording, out next month on Riley’s own label, will be worth seeking out for anyone interested in sassy, sophisticated new music.
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Rob Witts (Classical Source)
Riverside Studios, London, Feb, 2005