Ligeti Quartet, Anna Meredith – Nuc (2023) [FLAC 24bit/48kHz]

Ligeti Quartet, Anna Meredith – Nuc (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 42:12 minutes | 449 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Mercury KX

Mercury Prize-nominated cross-genre composer/producer Anna Meredith releases her new project in collaboration with contemporary string quartet Ligeti Quartet. ‘Nuc’ started life as a conversation between Anna Meredith and Richard Jones (Ligeti Quartet viola) after a decade of collaboration, honouring a shared attitude towards creating music which pushes boundaries whilst also speaking very directly to the listener. In addition to string and electronic recordings of Anna’s music from throughout her career, performed by Ligeti Quartet, Richard also developed new arrangements of existing compositions by Anna, and Nuc came to embody a celebration of forward-thinking pop composition rooted in classical instrumentation. The result is a joyful, occasionally furious, never too serious, sometimes energetic and sometimes restful collection of tracks which dazzle with Anna’s signature compulsive harmonies, rhythmic shifts of gear and sparkling textures.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. Qobuzissime! – Jessica Porter-Langson

Tracklist:

1-1. Ligeti Quartet – Tuggemo (05:21)
1-2. Ligeti Quartet – A Short Tribute to Teenage Fanclub (04:50)
1-3. Ligeti Quartet – Honeyed Words (03:39)
1-4. Ligeti Quartet – Solstice In (01:46)
1-5. Ligeti Quartet – Solstice Out (03:34)
1-6. Ligeti Quartet – Chorale (08:19)
1-7. Ligeti Quartet – Shill (02:50)
1-8. Ligeti Quartet – Haze (03:52)
1-9. Ligeti Quartet – Blackfriars (03:03)
1-10. Ligeti Quartet – Nautilus (04:55)

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