Since discovering Okkyung Lee via her Ghil LP last year I’ve been drawn in more and more by workings based around the cello. And while no artist I’ve come across has managed to attack the instrument in such a unique and moving way as Lee, it’s opened up a wonderful world of tracks that I’d previously pushed aside with a lot of other modern classical.
Enter Lori Goldston, best known to date as the touring cellist for Nirvana, famously appearing with the group during the recording of their MTV Unplugged: Live In New York session. In addition to being grunge royalty she was also a member of Dylan Carlson’s Earth, pioneers of what’s been pegged as ‘drone doom’, but more realistically just a great band plugging away at new sounds.
Creekside: Cello Solo delivers, on it’s most basic level, what it says in the title. Goldston is recorded playing her cello with no other instrumental, effect or vocal influences recorded in to the tracks. This is exactly what we wanted, as Goldston shares the ability with Lee to compose on cello without need for anything interfering it’s already full and diverse sound. Goldston, however, takes a more traditionally structured approach to this.
There’s not much more we can breakdown on this, except to say that’s it’s pleasure to listen to. Unaccompanied, acoustic cello that has more personality and depth to it then a high-tech studio of engineers and producers with shiny new gear. The nature of her chosen instrument and her own mastery allows for a level of expression that compares to few others who can operate purely on a single acoustic instrument – John Fahey and Bill Orcutt being of those limited few that spring to mind.
This is a record you’ll put on start to finish, kickback and enjoy. The type of record that makes you realise why you spent all that money on the sound system, why you still use vinyl, and why we spent all those hours balancing the needles and aligning our turntables. It’s raw, but not in a way that peaks or sounds unprofessional, but more open and vulnerable, though strong enough and with enough conviction to get in your head and move you.
At the end of the day you’ve got eleven tracks a lady playing a cello, but it’s so so good. I really recommend checking this out, and letting it take you back to what proper musicians can be.
Three tracks from the album below via youtube, press release underneath that.
via Mississippi / Little Axe Records
Lurking around the Northwest music world for years playing with the likes of the Black Cat Orchestre, Earth, David Byrne, Terry Riley, Nirvana and a ton of other musicians, here we have Lori Goldstons’ beautiful cello playing in its purest form – unaccompanied and acoustic.
The pieces on this LP all carry a certain level of austerity and gravitas, though they never come off as cold. On the contrary, they are warm emotional pieces of music played by someone who really knows their way around the cello. Lori has dedicated her life to music and we at Mississippi Records are very proud to present this LP filled with her visionary compositions.