Barium

CD – Creative Sources Recordings – CS519, Lisbon 2017

1. I - 54'52''

ISOTOPE ENSEMBLE

Ernesto Rodrigues - Viola

Guilherme Rodrigues - cello & objects
Marc Ramirez - double bass
Bruno Parrinha - soprano, alto & bass clarinets
Nuno Torres - alto saxophone
Paulo Galão - tenor saxophone
Anna Piosik - trumpet
Eduardo Chagas - trombone
Pedro Frazão - euphonium
Tiago Varela - fun organ, soprano & bass melodica
Andre Hencleeday - piano, electronics
Miguel Almeida - classical guitar
Abdul Moimême - prepared electric guitar
Carlos Santos - electronics
Carla Santana - electronics
Ryoko Imai - bass marimba
João Valinho - percussion

Recorded February 2018, Lisbon

Cover design Carlos Santos

https://ernestorodrigues.bandcamp.com/album/barium

Reviews

Large scale improvisation of the most subtle nature from Portugal's Isotope Ensemble led by Ernesto Rodrigues, 17 musicians slowly unfolding this beautiful work of consonance and dissonance dedicated to element atomic number 56, recording live at O'Culto da Ajuda in Lisbon with instrumentation including acoustic reeds, strings, brass, percussion, and electronics. (Squidco)

"Barium" is a little short and a little more acoustic, but still phenomenal! The concept is similar: a slow crescendo and then diminuendo of free minimal music with plenty of

electronic accent, incredible spacial dimension, and amazing synergy. This time my favorite individual performers are Bruno Parrinha on bass clarinet and Anna Piosik on trumpet. Andre Hencleeday is also worth noticing. 55 minutes of pure delight with a heartbreaking final for a person like me. In fact, for a person like me these albums are among the best examples of the contemporary electro-acoustic music, comparable say to Evan Parker's Electro-Acoustic Ensemble, and so on. Maciej Lewenstein