BUTTERFLIES IN THE

LABYRINTH OF SILENCE

 

GUITAR MUSIC OF GEORGES RAILLARD

 

OVERVIEW

 

In his second project with PARMA Recordings, Swiss composer Georges Raillard gifts us with 12 solo classical guitar compositions on BUTTERFLIES IN THE LABYRINTH OF SILENCE, all performed by renowned guitarist David William Ross.

 

The album follows the Sinking Islands suite, Raillard’s first project with PARMA Recordings, which appeared on BETWEEN THE ECHOES, a Navona Records compilation album featuring chamber works.

 

On BUTTERFLIES IN THE LABYRINTH OF SILENCE, we hear the full spectrum of Raillard’s imagination. At times, the compositions feature gliding melodies that barely rise above a whisper, while other parts of the album are thunderous refrains that catapult from the speakers. Raillard utilizes various playing methods in his works, including fingerpicking, long ringing strums, single note melodies, and sustained pedal points.

 

Raillard has a unique way of effectively matching the inflection of his compositions to the title of the songs. This is a testament to both Raillard as an imaginative composer and to the evocative playing of Ross.

 

On He Burst Out Laughing, the track aptly begins with the guitar mimicking a person laughing, with rolling bursts of spontaneous energy. It is immediately followed by the denouement of the laughter, highlighted by post-crescendo serenity, only for the laughing guitar to roar once again. Night Waves is a tranquil piece punctuated first by sliding chords that call to mind ocean waves lapping on the beach in the still of the night. A series of single note melodies wind and cascade like the tide coming in and out.

 

Measuring Clouds is an airy composition split into two movements. The title comes from the second movement, with its four-tone ostinato, shifting harmonies and counterpoints. The album comes to a close with Patio, which is interspersed with sharp slightly dissonant strums and rhythmic raps on the guitar’s body before descending into a series of peaceful and wandering chord patterns, ultimately circling back to how it began, ending on an ominous burst of tension.

 

With its range of moods, colors, and techniques, BUTTERFLIES IN THE LABYRINTH OF SILENCE is an introspective collection of imaginative compositions executed to perfection.

 

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HIGHLIGHTS

 

Georges Raillard is a Swiss composer, specializing in guitar compositions. He takes much inspiration from his time in Spain, where he worked as a language teacher, translator and writer.

 

David William Ross is a classically trained guitarist deeply versed in jazz improvisation. As an advocate of new music and genre stretching, Ross is a frequent collaborator with composers and songwriters as well as dancers, choreographers, and visual artists

 

Focusing on solo guitar compositions, BUTTERFLIES IN THE LABYRINTH OF SILENCE was recorded over a two-day period in late July 2016 at Mix One Studios in Boston MA

 

www.georges-raillard.com

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CREDITS

 

Recorded July 25 & 26, 2016 at Mix One Studios in Boston MA

Recording Session Producer Bob Lord, Jeff LeRoy

Recording Session Engineer Adam Weiss

 

Executive Producer Bob Lord

Executive A&R Sam Renshaw

A&R Chris Robinson

Audio Director Jeff LeRoy

Editing, Mixing, Mastering Shaun Michaud

Production Engineer Lucas Paquette

Art & Production Director Brett Picknell

Graphic Design Ryan Harrison

Marketing Scott Murphy

Release Date: January 13, 2017

Catalog #: NV6071

 

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TRACK INFO

 

David William Ross guitar

 

01  Shells on the Beach

 

02  Night Waves

 

03  Pacemaker

 

04  To Pilar

 

05  The Labyrinth of Silence

 

06  Summer Evening at the Rhine

 

07  Butterfly

 

08  Three Child’s Plays for Selina

 

09 Dance of the Shadows

 

10  Measuring Clouds

 

11  He Burst Out Laughing

 

12  Patio

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ALSO ON NAVONA RECORDS

 

(Nv6015) ASTRAL TRAVELS

David Arend