After the Requiem continued
Gavin Bryars' journey away from the more experimental work that made his reputation early in his career toward pieces possessing a more melancholic and romantic quality. In two of the works herein, "The Old Tower of Lobenicht" and "Allegrasco," one can hear echoes of his brilliant composing on the
Hommages album. But where the romantic elements were stricter and more crystalline on the prior effort, here there is an expansiveness that sometimes succeeds and at other times verges on kitsch. Guitarist
Bill Frisell performs on three of the four compositions, but his creamy, sustained chords tend to sound somewhat bland and occasionally subvert some otherwise very attractive melodic material. The standout track is a saxophone quartet number, "Alaric I or II," featuring the surprising presence of
Evan Parker. In fact,
Bryars' earliest musical ventures were as a member of the British free improvisation community, so the inclusion of
Parker has some historical background. The composition is a very enjoyable melange of minimalist technique and references to
Gershwin that manages to cohere into a satisfying whole. Fans of
Bryars' more substantial work from the '70s or his improvising skills in groups like
Joseph Holbrooke may find After the Requiem a little too sweet for their tastes, while listeners who are looking for something a bit meatier than
Arvo Part or
Henryk Gorecki may find their appetite satisfied. ~ Brian Olewnick