Artist: Erika Dagnino & Stefano Pastor
Title: Cycles
Cat Number: SLAMCD514
Year released: 2007
Format: CD & all digital platforms
Barcode: 5028386051428
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Cycles brings together the poetry of Erika Dagnino and the violin of Stefano Pastor – each in its own medium, the sound of the violin and the printed word of the poetry.
This dual presentation gives the listener opportunity to enjoy the depth and beauty of the music and the reader to study and soak up the words and structure of the poetry, and of course the combined experience the creators intended.
Stefano Pastor: violin, viola, percussion, piano, objects
Erika Dagnino: voice
Maurizio Borgia: drums (track 1 only)
“The album’s most interesting characteristic is Stefano Pastor’s stringwork, which is unique; he somehow makes violin and viola sound like a wind instrument, incorporating the minute slides and dynamic shifts into each attack and decay that I had previously associated only with saxophonists.” – Marc Medwin, Cadence
“The title track opens with some quietly twisted microtonal violin and stark drums from their guest Maurizio Borgia. Pastor reminds me of Mat Maneri, playing his violin or viola with those unique bent notes. It is a strong, well-balanced duo. On “From the Beginning After Forgetting…”, Stefano’s strange spinning strings are joined by odd, eerie, breath-like vocal sounds and percussion that is used more for its suspenseful sound than for any rhythmic spice. Erika Dagnino’s poetry is printed in the liner booklet in English and Italian and it is supposed to be read while listening to this disc. The poetry is often fascinating and somewhat difficult to comprehend, but I find it fits well with the equally fascinating/difficult music on this disc. On “While Your Ear Was Leaning…”, Stefano’s mesmerising viola is accompanied by an undertow of mutated strings that rise and fall and become harrowing at times. The blend of Stefano’s disturbing strings and sustained piano chords on the final piece, “Epilogue,” seems like a perfect ending to this overwhelming and provocative disc.” – Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
Compositions by Stefano Pastor, words by Erika Dagnino.
Recorded by Stefano Pastor.
Track 1 recorded October 2005, Mascherona Studio, Genoa, Italy
Tracks 2, 3, 4 recorded May 2006, Pastor Studio, Genoa, Italy.
Mixing and mastering by Stefano Pastor.