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The Gentle Erasure of Time - Works for Solo Viola & Electronics on CD

The Gentle Erasure of Time, the arresting and spellbinding debut solo album from Dublin-based American violist Nathan Sherman, is a collection of new commissions for solo viola and electronics. Sherman creates an immersive soundscape that shifts between haunting, mesmerising passages and intense, cinematic moments. Featuring works by distinguished composers Nicole Lizee, Karin Rehnqvist, Jonathan Nangle, Linda Buckley, Benjamin Broening, and Sam Perkin, this album explores themes of memory, movement, and beauty, establishing a vibrant conversation between acoustic and electronic realms.

The album opens with Jonathan Nangle's Erasure of Time, in which Sherman's viola plays a central role within an intricate layering of effects and electronic synthesis, moving through sonic landscapes with a sense of almost perilous intensity. Each piece is a distinct sound world, blending the viola's organic resonance with imaginative electronic textures to create an atmosphere that feels both grounded and otherworldly. The delicate interplay of sound elevates the viola's voice in an entirely new setting, inviting listeners to engage with each carefully crafted moment.

Linda Buckley's The Thin Veil provides a lyrical and meditative close to the album, capturing a final, ethereal reflection on the album's core ideas. This piece, rich with Buckley's characteristic beauty and introspection, rounds out The Gentle Erasure of Time as a powerful exploration of what electronic elements can bring to contemporary classical music.

Sherman's technical skill animates each composition with precision and intensity, revealing his deep connection to this repertoire. Known for his versatile musical interests and collaborations, Sherman has performed across both classical and experimental genres, contributing to ensembles like the Ficino Ensemble, National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, and the Irish Baroque Orchestra. This album builds on his innovative career, inviting listeners into a sonic experience that reimagines the potential of viola and electronic music together.

The Gentle Erasure of Time is a remarkable achievement from an artist at the height of his creative powers. Audiences are encouraged to turn up the volume and experience the textured depths and spatial richness of a bold new vision for the viola.