Sound of Silence

Works by Berlin, Brouwer, Calandrelli, Falla, Merlin, Simon/garfunkel, Tarrega, etc Milo Karadagli (guitar);

Jess Gillam (saxophone)

Decca 777 9637 41:04 mins

This album is Milo Karadagli ’s first release in three years. The enforced break came after a long period of ill health, during which time the Montenegro-born guitarist had no idea when, if at all, he could return to stage and studio. In this context, the titular track ‘The Sound of Silence’ is particularly poignant. This, and the other pieces in the collection were works Milo listened to during his recovery, a period when listening took on a deeper significance. There are versions of pop songs (such as Radiohead’s ‘Street Spirit’ and ‘Nights in White Satin’ by Moody Blues), film tracks (‘Over the Rainbow’) and actual guitar pieces by Francisco Tárrega.

Decca stablemate saxophonist Jess Gillam features on two tracks, De Falla’s Nana and Solitude by

Jorge Calandrelli; the combination of instruments is a revelation.

These pieces, and the classical works such as Canción de cuna are more artistically successful than the insipid pop (Peter Gabriel’s

‘The Book of Love’ was a personal lowpoint), but, like Milo ’s previous disc of Beatles arrangements, will no doubt will be commercially welcomed. Still, Sound of Silence whets the appetite for the guitarist’s – hopefully upcoming – foray into bigger repertoire. Claire Jackson PERFORMANCE ★★★ RECORDING ★★★