The work of Me Raabenstein under the rather icky-sounding Slowcream moniker explores the bolder ends of classical music, those noisy modernist bits that Classic FM prefers to avoid. Aside from Greg Haines mentioned on cello and organ on a few tracks it’s unclear how he works: presumably he constructs these grand pieces from uncredited samples, realistic synthesisers and digital editing. Regardless of the method, its refreshing to hear ‘new classical’ music by a laptopper looking beyond the bland confines of pretty chamber muzak and onto the broad gestures of the symphony.
Refreshing, yes, but ‘And’ is not entirely satisfactory, Raabenstein lacking the compositional muscle of an established classical composer, like Wolfgang Rihm, for instance. Rihm’s music may be utterly incomprehensible, but it is compelling, and it displays a confidence and surety of purpose that is absent here. There are plenty of spine-tingling scenes – sweeping string glissandi and portentous, looming bottom end – recognisable from the language of horror soundtracks, Lynch/Badalamenti is clearly an influence, but they come and go with little reason or logic. Raabenstein is less adept at creating genuine aural unease, those ear-hurting moments that Rihm and his ilk produce in spades, and the less said about the awful liner-notes the better. However, Raabenstein is on the right track and for that ‘And’ deserves praise, but listeners would do better sticking to the established canon.
Joshua Meggitt
