Joe Frawley, Wilhelmina´s Dream (self-released CDR)

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Here is one well-spent half-hour courtesy of composer Joe Frawley (b. 1971) from Connecticut, whose preferred media include field recordings, snippets of speech and fragments of classical music - a recurring flute and clarinet from Ravel, "creepy piano music" borrowed from Prokoviev, a little humming from Meredith Monk.

These samplings Frawley himself complements with electronics and piano, joined by flautist Amanda Baker on "Interlude", along with other elements borrowed from the composer´s own oeuvre.

In all, Wilhelmina´s Dream is a lovely suite, a haunting blend of sound collage and delicate instrumental composition which calls to mind a dusty old album of sepia-coloured family photographs.

"Prelude" (snatched from Frawley´s "Six Pieces for Piano Solo") sets the stage with an elegant melody featuring the chirping of crickets in the background. Gently arranged collage and piano intertwine throughout. "Agoraphobia" sticks out from the rest of the album and truly evokes the dis-ease caused by that illness.

The field recordings range from village church bells to fragments of recited poetry, lectures and hesttant, German-inflected dictation. The overall impression is kind of like listening to a 1930s radio broadcast of the performance of a Victorian fairy tale.

http://www.joefrawleymusic.info