Our latest reviews
JS Bach: Goldberg Variations (played on the Harp): Catrin Finch
For her DG debut, the Welsh Harpist Catrin Finch has chosen to record JS Bach’s sublime Goldberg Variations, using her own transcription. From the opening variation Finch demonstrates that in the hands of a world class musician the music…
Josef Suk: Asrael Symphony: Claus Peter Flor & Malaysian PO
Suk started writing this piece in 1904 as a dedication to his teacher and father-in-law Antonin Dvorak, who had recently died. Towards the completion of the work his wife, Otylka, also passed away. As a result, Suk turned this work…
Vivaldi Opera & Oratorio Arias: Magdalena Kozena, mezzo soprano, Venice Baroque Orchestra, Andrea Marcon
Czech mezzo soprano Magdalena Kozena again raids the baroque pleasure dome, with a disc of Vivaldi arias following on from her wonderful Handel recital disc of 2008. What a privilege it is to hear such technically assured singing coming from…
Riceboy Sleeps: Jonsi and Alex
Riceboy Sleeps is the art / music project fronted by Sigur Rós main man Jonsi and partner Alex Somers. Having spent the last decade tied up with his duties with his Icelandic spacemen, Jonsi and Alex’s forays into the music…
Pink: Lili Wilkinson
Ava has just transferred to Billy Hughes, a selective high school, in a bid to think about who she really is. After getting involved in the school musical, Ava ping-pongs between the popular ‘pastels’, and the nerdy stage crew (Screws)…
Beatle Meets Destiny: Gabrielle Williams
Beatle (whose actual name is John Lennon) has opted to take the early tram home at 9 o’clock. It’s Friday the thirteenth, and being highly superstitious, Beatle attempts to prevent any unlucky incidents from occurring. Waiting at the tram stop…
The Bride's Farewell: Meg Rosoff
On the morning of her wedding to her childhood sweetheart, Pell steals away with her adopted brother and her horse. She has watched her overburdened mother struggle to feed her numerous children with no help from her drunkard husband, and…
Between Stations: Kim Cheng Boey
Kim Cheng Boey was born in Singapore and became an established poet in his home country before migrating to Australia in 1997. He has had many volumes of poetry published. Between Stations is his first collection of travel writing. He…
Unparalleled Sorrow: Barry Dickins
It’s not often you find someone writing with such untrammelled frankness about an illness that still has some degree of stigma. There have been accounts by other writers – such as Lewis Wolpert and William Styron – but Dickens’ guiltlessness…
The Silence: Bruce Mutard
Comparing Bruce Mutard’s latest to most other comics is like putting an arthouse film next to a Spielberg schlockbuster. This is a book of subtlety with Mutard working every panel to convey character, build his story and sneak jokes into…
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