Ryan Teague: Field Drawings (CD, Village Green, February 2012)

These 12 pieces of melodic modern classical are charming, melodic, and expertly arranged. Somehow, the record as a whole is a little underwhelming, and I think there's a clue in its title: it feels rather like Ryan Teague has been on a field trip around half a decade of music, and come back with a series of informative sketches. Here's an stirring arpeggiated number after Philip Glass, there's a prepared piano exercise after John Cage (although it almost reminds me more of the Cage inspired works on Aphex Twin's Drukqs). This one has the energetic grandeur of Michael Nyman, that one has the C21 chamber ambient feel of someone like Peter Broderick. Apart from (for the most part) an upbeat mood and a perky tempo, they don't seem to have much holding them together as a collection. I'd really like to hear what happens if he picks a style and sticks to it.

I bought this from Boomkat. They call it Home Listening / Modern Classical / Ambient.

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