 A household name in New Zealand for over 35 years, Michael Houstoun is especially visible currently as a new Arts Foundation Laureate. Featuring evocative, imaginative and accessible repertoire that spans a range of styles, Inland reaches out far beyond Michael Houstoun’s historic concert hall audience. |
While much of his reputation has been built on traditional piano repertoire, more recently Michael Houstoun has increasingly been heard performing new, New Zealand music – here, notably by John Psathas, Gao Ping, Ken Young, Victoria Kelly – and Mike Nock. This direction forms the basis of his new release on Rattle. His commitment to the best New Zealand art music repertoire, sees our paths increasingly intertwined.Michael’s first outing with Rattle was on John Psathas’ debut Rhythm Spike, and he recently featured extensively on John’s massively popular View From Olympus album. Now Michael has now initiated a project to record a suite of contemporary New Zealand solo piano music under his own name.2007 RAT-D016 |
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inland michael houstoun
This 2 disc, solo piano album by New Zealand’s favourite classical musician both stretches and soothes. Inland realizes Michael Houstoun’s long-held goal to record music close to heart and home. Looming large is the presence of NZ jazz expat Mike Nock’s writing, in a series of largely contemplative ambient pieces.
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Big respect to Rattle, a record company which has been releasing New Zealand recordings ...beyond the regimented lines of classical and contemporary boxes for some years now.
MARK AMERY Pavement Magazine
There is a warmth and attractiveness about the whole project, and this extends right throughout every detail..
Gillian Bibby MUSIC IN NZ
The music is fascinating and varied hectic and yet beautiful, exciting yet always with a sense of innate taut structure, noisy and yet also involving a world of contemplation.
Gillian Bibby MUSIC IN NZ
There is no excuse for not treating yourself ... Get spiked!
William Dart THE LISTENER
...everything I could have hoped for. New Zealand Music at its best, imaginatively chosen, sensitively played, and with a satisfying warmth to the recorded piano sound.
Heath Lees, New Zealand Herald
This is vital, wholly original, instantly appealing, obviously important music.
Jim Svejda KUSC FM (USA)
This is vital, wholly original, instantly appealing, obviously important music.
Jim Svejda KUSC FM (USA)
Its an album to me that I'm going to keep living with because every time I put it on there's something new..
Manu Taylor & Eva Radich RadioNZ Nine To Noon
You've got this incredible sax and percussion that winds through it.. I mean I'm just stunned..
Manu Taylor & Eva Radich RadioNZ Nine To Noon
Beautiful production from Rattle records..
Manu Taylor & Eva Radich RadioNZ Nine To Noon
In classical music terms, this is The Lord of the Rings
Gilbert Wong Metro
There are moments in View from Olympus, where the frenzy of the wine-crazed Maenads seems to know no bounds.
William Dart NZ Herald
American saxophonist Joshua Redman blows it cool and velvety in Omnifenix, Psathas' first Saxophone concerto…
William Dart NZ Herald
But even here, when the tempo picks up, expertly propelled by the biggest band in the land under Marc Taddei, the delirium is such that even Lance Philips' drumkit cadenza seems an oasis of measured calm…
William Dart NZ Herald
The colours in View from Olympus spill and radiate from the first page where Michael Houstoun's piano and Pedro Carneiro's xylophone twinkle in a Stravinskian grotto…
William Dart NZ Herald
The reverberant slow movement, dedicated to the composer's children, is a shimmering wonder; a three-minute encore, Fragments like a jazzy tribute to a Satie Gnossienne…
William Dart NZ Herald
The recording does every shift of mood and sound the fullest justice.
William Dart NZ Herald
First of all, I have to say, Rattle Records deserve a lot more love. There's a great package, there's a lot of information there; it's a wonderful recording. ..
Manu Taylor & Kathryn Ryan RadioNZ Nine To Noon
It's just great. I found it very meditative - I thought a lot when this was playing. And it's a good thing over the Christmas break.
Manu Taylor & Kathryn Ryan RadioNZ Nine To Noon
Rattle continues its run of recordings of New Zealand music with this disc ... Packaged with minimalistic elegance, this absorbing anthology contains an eclectic mix of music played with quiet authority by Houstoun.
Christchurch Press, Christopher Moore
There's a vein of fun running through the recording, especially in Mike Nock's edgy, freewheeling compositions. A delightful recording which must win new friends for solo piano performances.
Christchurch Press, Christopher Moore
…stunningly imaginative arrangements..
John Button THE DOMINION
Jack Body can fairly claim to be New Zealand's most important composer after the late Douglas Lilburn..
John Button THE DOMINION
…fascinating listening
Aaron Watson CAPITAL TIMES
…the star turn is Rattle Records' Pulse.
William Dart THE LISTENER
..a pioneer in New Zealand music..
Tony Parker NZ MUSICIAN
On You Hit Him He Cry Out
… everything I could have hoped for. New Zealand Music at its best, imaginatively chosen, sensitively played, and with a satisfying warmth to the recorded piano sound.
Heath Lees, New Zealand Herald
This is a very important album.
CONCERT FM
The producers have struck an ideal balance between the experimental and easy-listening for the popular ear, challenging preconceptions of New Zealand contemporary classical as 'difficult'...
Mark Amery PAVEMENT
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