Quest Ensemble: The Other Side

This stunning sophomore release from London-based Quest Ensemble is a thing of beauty and brilliance, artfully embodying, as it does, the trio's shared love of musical cultures from the likes of West Africa, South-East Asia and the Middle East, while skilfully intertwining influences from the worlds of traditional and post-classical music, experimental jazz and even folk.

There's clearly a debt due here to modern masters of minimalism such as Steve Reich and John Adams. Use of repetitive phase loops and rhythmic structures on tracks such as 'Moment' and 'Pendulum'; pay respectful homage to these great American composers yet there is still a subtle acknowledgment of more exotic influences. The three talented musicians’ own individual styles are also given space to shine: violinist Preetha Narayanan, originally from Memphis, draws inspiration from her South Indian family heritage while Filipe Sousa on piano adds elements of jazz from his native Portugal; and while these nine original compositions are nearly all instrumental, cellist and composer Tara Franks hails from a family with strong choral roots. With them having been together over a decade now, the only complaint one might levy is that such a fine ensemble should be more prolific in their output.

An outstanding album. More please, and soon.