Obscure Atlas

“One of the primary pleasures of his piece is hearing how imaginatively and resourcefully the trio’s acoustic timbres are used to create a cryptic ambiance. The musicians vividly establish the character of the piece with careful consideration of pacing, dynamics, and texture. As mystery and wonder are conjured by vibraphone and piano, the cello’s pitch-shifted bowing suggests the moaning of a newly awakened spirit. Melody is deemphasized for mood, the focus on using instrument sounds to generate atmosphere and drama (though the recording of a Russian voice does appear within the fifth part, “Troposphere”). The intensity level increases in “Crust,” which features a heavy snare-driven pulse and Fridman accompanying her mournful cello expressions with wordless vocalizing. Whereas another composer might have opted for hyperbolic gestures and high volume, Strootman admirably chose understatement and nuance.”

Ron Schepper, Textura

“Rhythmic sounds of the piano and percussion, are here interspersed with slow movements on the cello into one, very convincing whole.”

Ben Taffijn, Nieuwe Noten

“Obscure Atlas SG-3 is music that draws you into the story from the beginning. It was written specifically for these musicians and you can tell. [...] A hallucinatory journey that is almost physically palpable due to Brendon Heinst's fantastic recording and Bart and Brendon's mix of TRPTK.”

Martijn ten Napel, Alpha Audio