Spirit (ÅR & DAG AD16 LP) has been composed by Anders Lauge Meldgaard and played by Halvcirkel on this LP release from Denmark. Halvcirkel are a string trio, but the slightly odd sound of the record emerges from the mix of their instruments with electronic tones generated by Meldgaard with his “Ondomo” and modular synths. They’ve been working together since 2016 when they first played concerts with Meldgaard under his Frisk Frugt alias, and have been collaborating ever since.
Meldgaard is also a member of the AAR & DAG group of four composers – maybe more of an affiliation than a group – and they failed to cause a stir here in 2021 with their odd record where performing decisions were made using a hand-cranked wooden wheel that triggered electronic sensors. Today’s record isn’t quite as flat and uneventful as that item, and the three string players Bettina Marie Ezaki, Mika Persdotter and Nicole Hogstrand exhibit considerable skill and delicacy for their parts. The story is that Halvcirkel usually play as a quartet, but when one of them went on maternity leave the versatile Meldgaard stepped in with his Ondomo – which turns out to be a Japanese variation on the famous Ondes Martenot instrument, sometimes used by Messiaen. I should point out this was not a hasty decision, probably involved some diplomatic discussions, and it’s evident that the rest of the group have welcomed this move, calling it an “inspiring reimagining”.
Results are not unpleasant, but unchallenging chamber music with simple modal melodies; the musicians have an undeniably good rapport, but Spirit is deficient in experimentation, and lacks passion. (05/02/2025)