Eleven Magpies and the hurried emotional winding of "Murmuration"

 

"a spinning diorama of complex emotions..."


The hustle and bustle of "Murmuration" by Bristol-based instrumental quartet Eleven Magpies from their sophomore album "Two for You" that just dropped on May 14th is so full of movement that it feels like nature doing it's thing in fast motion. Guitar stair stepping down and then sideways with violin seemingly catching up and dancing around it, courtesy of Ian Ross and Elizabeth Westcott and cello building counterpoised tensions while mandolin seems to argue the point perfectly rendered by James Gow and Alex Vann feels like a spinning diorama of complex emotions. In a little over 3 minutes I almost feel winded, you can feel sadness, concern, doubt and over-riding wonder in this short span of time. It makes you want to run to catch all the things you have almost lost. 

You might feel other things, of course. This is the magic of music like this. The combination of classical and folk shapes somehow always translates to modern times no matter what the circumstances are. The tactile acoustic nature of stringed instruments can peer back into the beginning of things.

From press notes:

[Eleven Magpies is a quartet of musicians who met doing theatre. Led by Bristol-based composer, multi-instrumentalist and music director Ian Ross (Wise Children, Kneehigh), the band features Alex Vann on mandolin (Spiro, Three Cane Whale), violinist Elizabeth Westcott (Yesterday’s Camel), and cellist James Gow (Jow). Their first album Eleven Magpies has been praised as “one of the most refreshing albums of instrumental folk you are likely to hear for a long time” (Folk Radio) and "intense but effortless… this album certainly gives a feeling of well-being” (fRoots)".]

-Robb Donker Curtius

Cuculi Records · Murmuration - Eleven Magpies

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM 

https://elevenmagpies.bandcamp.com/track/murmuration

https://www.facebook.com/elevenmagpies

https://soundcloud.com/cuculirecords/murmuration-single


Eleven Magpies is a quartet of musicians who met doing theatre.

Ian Ross- Guitar, Alex Vann- Mandolin, Elizabeth Westcott- Violin and James Gow- Cello.

Eleven Magpies, classical, folk, instrumental quartet, Bristol UK based, Ian Ross, Elizabeth Westcott, James Gow and Alex Ann, spinning diorama of complex emotions, "Murmuration", new album "Two for You",