Emmanuel Holterbach & Blutwurst — Ricercar nell’ombra’
The release appears on UK based Another Timbre, coming in the labels sparse mini white gatefold packaging- this features on its front cover a photo of a densely crowded edge of woodland bank covered in long grasses, wildflowers & various other green, yellow & brown foliage- all making for an unstated, but fitting illustration for the work within.
Emmanuel Holterbach has been playing/recording work since the early 1990s, and Ricercar nell’ombra’ was written in 2018. If I were to compare it to anything I’d say a more organic, slightly creaking, and blurred take on some of Stars Of The Lid more classical instrumental based material, or maybe a more hazed at times wondering take on Phill Niblock's work. For this recording the Blutwurst ensemble where- Cristina Abati –viola, Marco Baldini –trumpet, Maurizio Constantini -double bass Daniela Fantechi- accordion, Michele Lanzini –cello, Edoardo Ricci-bass clarinet, and Luisa Santacesaria –harmonium.
The composition roles in six seconds over the forty six-minute mark- and it finds the seven-piece ensemble creating this very slowly, at times wavering & simmer drone dwell. As we progress through the works delicately morphing & gently ebbing flow we can make out each players different instrumental tonal identity & sonic sharpe- so this creates a most rewarding feeling of mood shifting. Yet for all, it’s wavering & slightly creaking shifts it never loses it’s pressing shape or harmonic pitch, which of course is due to the intuitive playing of the Blutwurst ensemble & Emmanuel Holterbach very subtly shifting composition.
In finishing Ricercar nell’ombra’ is a very appealing & engrossing example of modern classical focused drone matter- with both Holterbach careful & considered composition, and the Blutwurst wonderfully nuanced & rich playing really shining through-out…all making for another very worthy release from Another Timbre.