Uh, teacher, does the electric guitar count as an electronic instrument? Was Jimi Hendrix an electronic musician, how about Lambsbread? Cycle down the weirdness factor and admit the stuff about extended technique is a bit used up, not all used up. The line between what we call an electronic music composer and a mere musician is surprisingly rigid and thick. Hauschka & Hildur Guðnadóttir team up for a new release where they compose soundtrack-style classical pieces with little electronic blurs thrown in, not to shock, but associate with the violin, cello, and other strings that lead this one along. Each piece on the album represents its own little sonic element. Formally all the pieces match each other quite well, each being lead by a kind of regal violin and complimented by little electronic bubbles and sharp piter-patters. Saluting to an exercise that most electronic composers ignored over the last 50+ years – most likely because it was boring. Virtuousity ain’t a big deal, and neither is making a full electro-acoustic run through record, but it’s nice to see two sides play together that aren’t dueling.
6/10
