press

music:

Shut Up

and Dance

(Charlie Barber)

BBC NOW

"The punchy and quizzical music of Charlie Barber has enlivened the scene in south Wales for some while. Listeners around the rest of Britain could hear it at full strength in Radio 3's recent relay of his orchestral piece Shut Up and Dance, and now his own group is out on a short tour. It's an extravagant line-up of a dozen players, with Barber directing. Brass and reeds are off-set by strings, a bit like the Michael Nyman set-up but softer-edged, and versatile enough for an engaging repertoire of short pieces inflected by pop, early music and traditional Asian modes."

The Independent

"Charlie Barber's work is melodically and texturally rich, but based on systems and mathematical rigour. His roots in theatre and rock are clear in his atmospherics, suspended harmonies and climaxes. It is music for imaginary movies that inhabits an unlocatable world rich in cultural references."

Hybrid Magazine

"Barber continues to commission new work from young and established composers. Always looking for the chunky beat and funky riff in the post-minimalist terrain, Barber gives good entertainment value."

Live Art Magazine