RELEASES
ARTIST ALBUM TEXT
Erik Griswold Altona Sketches Bolts, screws, paper, rubber strips, and bits of cardboard are wedged, laced, and screwed between the piano strings to create layers of interlocking microtonal scales. These form a matrix of possibilities that are explored, sounded and discovered in a series of improvised musical moments. Cross rhythms. Imperfect memories.

Bio Currently based in Brisbane, Australia, American born composer and pianist Erik Griswold has been a leading force in Australian contemporary composition for prepared piano for many years. Splitting his time between solo pursuits and his work with percussionist partner Vanessa Tomlinson, his compositions have been presented across the globe in the US, UK, China and other locations in Asia and Europe.

Altona Sketches was conceived following a lengthy session of prepared piano improvisations delivered in support of a one-man juggling show with Australia's highly regarded contemporary circus troupe Circa. The album splits its sound palette between short and sweet excursions into music boxes and prepared toy piano and lengthier explorations of Griswolds unique prepared piano approaches.

Wednesday (excerpt) (128k MP3, 3.7MB)
ORDER DIRECT FROM ROOM40 VIA PAYPAL: Add to cart ($30 inc shipping)

REVIEWS

"colourful and refreshingly unpretentious"
(paris transatlantic)

"splitting the difference between Harry Partch and Harry Connick Jr. with mysterious incursions into exotic domains that you don't need a slide rule or a thorough knowledge of Indonesian metaphysics to enjoy"
(seattle weekly)

Related ROOM40 titles:
Erik Griswold - 'Wallpaper Music'
Abrahams/Cooper - 'Oceanic Feeling - Like'
Chris Abrahams - 'Thrown'