I’ve been following Mr Kyrakides career since around 2010, when I heard  Antichamber( also on Unsounds)- which was a wonderful two disc collection of varied modern compositions. Last year I reviewed Lunch Music, which was his attempt to  mix together the often edgy & perverse  literary works of Beat writer William S Burroughs, with modern composition- this was an interesting, if not wholly successful release. So I was most pleased to see this new collection of work from Mr Kyrakides, and I must say it’s up there with Antichamber, in both variation of types of work, creativity, and often memorable-yet- edgy composition.

The two CD’s come in a double CD sized hardback book. This features in its middle a forty page booklet, and here we get write-ups about each of the nine compositions featured, plus a few black & white illustrations/pictures. The outside of the book features a moody black & white photo of a roadway with a tree growing up from it, black texts against a clean white background, and sliver embossed text on the front cover. All making for a very sleek & nicely arty bit of packaging.

Featured over the two discs we get a total of nine pieces, and these come from between 2010 & 2015.  Each of these works have running times between just under ten minutes, and over twenty five. Over the nine pieces  Mr Kyrakides utilizes computers, various combination of string instruments, piano, string quartets, percussion, field recordings, voice/ text elements, contrabass, orchestra, and prepared disklavier.

Surprisingly for a collection of works themed around the relationship between voice, language & music, the first piece 2012’s “Words And Song With out Words”- feature no formal wording or text. Instead with the aid of graceful & harmonic cello swoons, and computer manipulation Kyrakides takes a block of text( discussing music with out words), and coverts it into music. The original presentation of the piece saw the work been played in front of the projected text.  So as you can see from the outset Kyrakides is cleverly messing with ones conceptions of music & words.

As mentioned early there is a fair bit sonic variation though-out the collection. On disc one we go from 2014’s "Toponymy", which creates a angular yet oddly haunting blend of  sawing string quartet playing, and a mix of male & female voice- each saying a selection of place-names in Turkish & Greek. This creates an urgent, unbalancing, yet moody piece. Or there’s 2010’s “Circadian Surveillance” that sees a collection of lulling & bright vibe textures, blended together with elements of  slowed & altered field recordings. These where captured in a twenty four hour  period in Central Nicosai- bringing together street sounds, people voices etc. The piece is dreamy yet surreal, and at times jarring sonic experience.

On disc two we move from the wonky, haphazard, episodic unfold of 2014’s "Testudo" with it’s blend of string saw,  brooding textural simmer, and electro hacking. Onto the slurred ensemble meets ticking electro textural detail &  sudden spoken word detail of 2014’s "Oneiricon".

Subvoice is really a most varied, consistent & thought provoking new collection  of works from Mr Kyrakides. Which I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who enjoys  any form of modern composition, or contemporary classical music.