AVA

Ambient classical lustre from Anna Phoebe’s latest project.

This is the first release from the duo of Anna Phoebe and Berlin-based classical composer Aisling Brouwer. A four-track EP, it has a delicate porcelain beauty, yet also an underlying firmness and passion. The combination of the former’s violin masterstrokes and the latter’s piano lilts is fascinating. When you listen to the title track, it’s as if the pair are bonded by a telepathic musical attraction, as the gentle, pastoral arrangement brings into focus the effortless wonder of nature. These are comparatively short compositions, as if the duo are teasing us for something grander and more eloquent later this year, when they release an album. But don’t be fooled – there’s so much going on musically, it’s as if we’re being given an insight into the language of two artists who complement one another well. Mass has a mournful tone, while Into The Deep is a little more uplifting and October Day strolls with a beatific gaze. The overall impact is of music that’s very visual, and certainly belongs at the classical end of the progressive spectrum. AvA is a special project, and Waves is a superb introduction to what they’re capable of achieving.