Erik Friedlander expands minds and pleases artistic sensibilities with Maldoror, a series of compositions based on excerpts from Comte de Lautreamont's Les Chants de Maldoror. A few of the pieces are somewhat literal in their interpretation, where others inspire Friedlander to push the limits of his own creativity, the sounds he's able to produce from the cello, and, really, the true definition of music. Excerpts from Lautreamont's poems are contained in the liner notes and, while nicely laid out, are somewhat difficult to read, forcing enjoyment of the text and music both together and discretely.
The album begins with fiercely and flatly bowed dissonance, giving a sense of discomfort and a taste of what's to come. The ensuing pieces illustrate Friedlander's tremendous versatility with his instrument. He moves from gentle percussion to wild arpeggios. He breaks into a beautiful haunting melody then rudely interrupts it with an obnoxious gruffness that doesn't let the piece become too self-indulgent. Some relief comes with a gentle pizzicato melody reminiscent of Bach's Cello Suite #1: even-tempered and melancholic. Friedlander created his own poetry using just his fingers in the fourth piece, without the assistance of the bow. He surpasses himself in the sixth piece, where he loses many (bow) hairs creating fantastically crunchy and swishy sounds you never thought possible with this instrument.
Cello aficionados will appreciate his respect for the instrument and ability to glean sounds from it that will make synthesizer manufacturers rethink their aspirations to someday conquer acoustic instruments. In one piece, there is the delicate resonance of a plucked classical guitar; in another, the low growl of an airplane engine; in yet another, there's the breathy, scratchy sound of a cat cleaning itself. Interspersed throughout are gorgeously played long-bowed melodies, sounds most often associated with the cello.
Friedlander has successfully created a cycle of compositions that will delight and inspire both artists and CD collectors alike. His interpretations of these rather obscure poems will perhaps provide inspiration for yet another degree of musical interpretations. Beyond the technique and analyzing various styles, and even beyond the written verses of Comte de Lautreamont, one can enjoy the flow and unwavering energy behind his compositions, as well as the distinct beauty of each piece.
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