Electric [Digital Only]

‘Electric’ contains many of the best works for cello and electronics written in the last 40 years. A delicious sonic feast that showcases the treasure of Barley’s 18th century cello and the electronic wizardry and imagination of some of the most talented composers working today like Anna Meredith, Joby Talbot, Michael Gordon and John Metcalfe. From the machine-like rhythms of Motion Detector to the tenderness of Constant Filter that is a wide choice of style and mood. 

“Fiercely committed, immaculately delivered disc. There’s plenty here to captivate…Barley is bright and energetic amid the frenetic electronic activity…It makes for an eclectic collection of pieces, but what brings them together is Barley’s rich, supple playing, which he varies dramatically in tone and style as he allies himself with each composer’s music across the disc’s carefully considered emotional journey. Recorded sound is so rich and detailed that its something of a sonic marvel in itself” – The Strad

“‘Electric’ is a timely album…it’s the longer works that draw the best from Barley’s warm tone and sensitive playing…moonmoons brilliantly blends legato Lydian-key phrasing and electronic accompaniment, the cello’s expressive voice surrounded by halo of pitch-shifted pizzicato. [Honeyed Words] a simple, playful work, and has a winning charm” – Gramophone

★★★★ “As a collected work, Electric is haunting and otherworldly…beautifully raw…With electronic technology that is constantly in development, it’s important to see these works set down with strong recordings that reflect the landscape for and possibilities of contemporary performers and technology. Electric offers us just that.” – BBC Music Magazine

“Warm tone and sensitive playing” – Songlines