Australia's premier guitar quartet Guitar Trek reflects life in modern Australia with a programme that showcases works of immense color and rhythmic vitality. The album includes the rich melodic and nostalgic quality of Richard Charlton's Five Tails in Cold Blood (including the eponymous 'Bluetongue'); the driving energy and shifting timbres of Nigel Westlake's Six Fish that adds the distinctive sound of the 12-string guitar and dobro to the mix; and at it's heart the music of Philip Houghton, one of the most original and poetically imaginative guitar composers of our time. The energy, enthusiasm and affection of Australian quartet Guitar Trek for it's artistic mission surrounds this recording like an attractive aura. The album highlights some of the best guitar quartets written by Australian composers for Guitar Trek and others over the past 30 years; the all-Australian-made instruments used by the quartet adding further synergy to the whole. This recording has extra personal meaning to the ensemble as it serves as a homage to two very close friends of the group who have passed away in recent times: composer Phillip Houghton, four of whose works form the core of the programme, and luthier Graham Caldersmith whose instruments are featured on the release.
Tracks: 1.1 Six Fish~I. Guitarfish 1.2 Six Fish~II. Sunfish 1.3 Six Fish~III. Spangled Emperor 1.4 Six Fish~IV. Sling-Jaw Wrasse 1.5 Six Fish~V. Leafy Sea Dragon 1.6 Six Fish~VI. Flying Fish 1.7 Five Tails in Cold Blood (Guitar Quartet No. 8)~I. Shingleback 1.8 Five Tails in Cold Blood (Guitar Quartet No. 8)~II. Lace Monitor 1.9 Five Tails in Cold Blood (Guitar Quartet No. 8)~III. Manta Ray Ballet 1.10 Five Tails in Cold Blood (Guitar Quartet No. 8)~IV. Water Dragon Dreams 1.11 Five Tails in Cold Blood (Guitar Quartet No. 8)~V. Bluetongue 1.12 Nocturne 1.13 Opals~I. Black Opal 1.14 Opals~II. Water Opal 1.15 Opals~III. White Opal 1.16 News from Nowhere~I. Flux: Being Lost in Long Grass - Trance: Seeing the River 1.17 News from Nowhere~II. Drift: Slow Boat to Nowhere... Stars on Night Water in the Aqua-Realm 1.18 News from Nowhere~III. Rocks: The Arrival... and the Rocks Hum and Hover 1.19 Wave Radiance 1.20 Bleached Memories
Audio Sample: All soundclips are provided by Tidal and are for illustrative purposes only. For some releases, the tracks listed may not accurately represent the tracks on the physical release.
