OUT OF AMBER
ARC .   Sylvia Hallett violin; Danny Kingshill cello; Gus Garside bs
SLAMCD 205

TRACKS
1 Early reflection 0m 56s
2 Distant window 4 43
3 Circadian rhythms 8 07
4 Snare in the woods 4 08
5 At the air’s edge 5 10
6 Out of amber 6 07
7 Expecting to land 5 08
8 Radio pills 3 41
9 Snow dance 6 10
10 Goodbye dry land 5 05

. Rec. Oct.1992 - Jan. 1993

It's hard to resist the temptation to label this "Chamber Improv.", even though it's not at all obvious whether Arc favour improvisation or composition. The tone of this album is pretty austere throughout, and this extends even to the use of vocals, inviting comparisons to modern composers as diverse as Sofia Gubaidulina and George Crumb, although it also reminded me (rather obliquely, I must admit) of Russell/Durrant/Butcher's "Conceits". Although it is possible to imagine the Kronos quartet tackling renditions of some titles here, such as the title track, other moments are more devinitelyd erived from improv, such as "Radio Pills" and, on one occasion at least, that all favourite threading-a-stick-through-the-bass-strings a la Barry Guy. Whatever comparisons can me made, however, ultimately Arc are a very individual group indeed, and add something rather new to the Slam roster. This is actually the best thing I've heard yet from the label, and is very well recorded. Despite the austerity there is a wide variety of style, technique and mood on display here, and any listener who finds time for it willbe well rewarded. Tim Owen

LIVE ART/Review
ARC are an impovising string trio and Out of Amber shows an imprssive empathy between Sylvia Hallet (violin), Danny Kingshill (cello) and Gus Garside (double bass). They are at their most inspired on the chettering insect conversation of "Circadian Rhythms" and the exultant violin peaks on "Snare in the Woods", but their astringency can become wearing. ARC's music is still rooted (far back) in the European chamber tradition and at times they remind of Schnittke, but without the tunes. There's a dry, unemotional feel to this disc, but again, in the chamber tradition, their physical presence in the room would doubtless create a quite different feel. Dave Morrison