Freya Arde has been a regular in TSMM missives since her first Spirit Awake EP, five years ago now. A young German composer and guitarist she's been developing a nice line in electronically augmented neoclassical music with a steady stream of singles and EPs; raised the game with her Riefenstahl soundtrack at the end of last year and has now just released her debut album.
An accomplished multi-instrumentalist Arde handles guitars, piano, moog, bass and vocals, whilst calling in some string assistance: Alina Gropper on violin, Filip Sommer on viola, as well as Benjamin Arnold and Moritz Brümmer on cello.
The LP really runs the neoclassical gamut, from the graceful and genteel title track which welcomes the listener, their is guitar sprinkled poignance on "Farewell", slow building cinematic drama with "In Motion", underwater ambience on "A Few Seconds", a life affirming arrangement and accomplished playing on "Papership Sailing" right through to the the folky dream-pop of the LP's closing track. There's pretty much something for everyone.
I have a sense that Yarde is still finding her compositional focus, understandable with only a few releases under her belt and a whole world of possibility, but there is also a strong sense that she's heading in the right direction and starting to hone her sonic signature. Does that mean I'm down on this LP? Hell no, it's a great start to finish listen from a very promising young composer and musician.
Playlist Companion.
Find Freya Arde in good company over at the Slow Neoclassical concert hall.
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