Composer: Anna Meredith
Performer: Ligeti Quartet
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Mercury KX
Release: 2023
Size: 449 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
01. Tuggemo
02. A Short Tribute to Teenage Fanclub
03. Honeyed Words
04. Solstice In
05. Solstice Out
06. Chorale
07. Shill
08. Haze
09. Blackfriars
10. Nautilus
Nuc, the latest album from the Ligeti Quartet and British composer Anna Meredith, is an eclectic and exciting collaboration that showcases the group’s versatility and innovation. Known for their boundary-pushing programming, the Ligeti Quartet’s partnership with Meredith, who combines classical, electronic, and pop music in her compositions, is a natural fit.
The album’s opening track, “Tuggemo,” sets the tone for what’s to come, with free-form sliding passages giving way to a pumping synth line and a semi-electronic dance track before returning to glissando madness. The quartet performs new works by Meredith, as well as reimagined versions of previous tracks, such as “Honeyed Words” and “Nautilus,” both from her 2016 debut album Varmints.
While some parts on Nuc may be challenging for the average listener, the quartet allows for moments of reflection, such as the soothing “Blackfriars,” a respite before the rousing conclusion “Nautilus.” Violist Richard Jones deserves credit for his impressive reinterpretations of Meredith’s previous work, making tracks like “Shill” and “Blackfriars” naturally reflective of the quartet’s stylistic values.
Throughout Nuc, the Ligeti Quartet showcases their full range of skills, from woozying glissandi and snappy pizzicato to soaring harmonics and just plain and simple, beautiful melodies. Meredith’s fantastical musical cosmos is brought to life through the quartet’s performance, resulting in a magical and innovative exhibit of the finest in contemporary music.
The arresting Nuc highlights the talents of two pioneers in the contemporary classical music scene; with their innovative programming and genre-bending compositions, the Ligeti Quartet and Anna Meredith have created something truly unique and captivating.