Sharp Green

Seven new compositions and six composers from Latvia representing the young and middle generation - this is the balance sheet of the Sharp Green album by the Atomos Saxophone Quartet It features a variety of composers with roots in academic as well as nonacademic music, but all are united by their willingness to surrender to the adventurous spirit of Atomos, which has encouraged them to explore the possibilities of the sound of a saxophone quartet. Their compositions have addressed issues pertaining to humanity, ecology, materiality, the fourishing of life in nature and in themselves, and also simply the powerful joy of self expression and playing music. A saxophone quartet itself seems to be intolerant of dull moderation, and on this album the artists have given us an exciting sonic journey in which we hear everything from minimalist aesthetics and sonority as the main driving force to rock-like intonations, atmospheric moods and energetic afrmations of creative power.