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This new edition of Michael Kieran Harvey's Threnody album was originally released in 1995 by Astra. It received glowing reviews then, and greatly deserves fresh exposure. It contains premiere recordings of works by Michael Kieran Harvey, Carl Vine, Stuart Campbell, John McCaughey, Andrew Byrne, Keith Humble, and James Anderson.
“Addict strikes me as some of the best music on the disc, especially the passages in which the computer-altered piano sonorities are in the foreground ... Harvey's disc functions as one big piece (no mean feat, given that it involves the works of seven composers). The gaps between the works and movements are minimal so that the pieces tend to run into each other, and the music is distributed so as to allow a single shape to emerge. The first four of Vine's Five Bagatelles are second on the disc, but the fifth – which gives the disc its title – is placed last. Harvey's Addict which is the penultimate work, functions as the CD's climax, not only in terms of its raw energy and extended sound world, but also because the computer music contains references to other music already heard on the disc.” (Andrew Ford, 24 Hours, ABC)
“Harvey's own works are the best-sounding ones ... Toccata DNA is written in the old developing variations technique. Its supreme lightness comes from germ cells ... This is fast, flashy and good music that deserves more exposure. The same goes for Addict, for piano and what sounds like live electronics ... The talented Harvey turns in truly fantastic performances of all this difficult music.” (Lyle Chan, Soundscapes)