Dan Roman and Cuarteto Latinoamericano - 2024 - DVXNS

(32:42; Neuma Records)

Track list:
1. Mvmt. 1 3:38
2. Mvmt. 2 3:38
3. Mvmt. 3 3:38
4. Mvmt. 1 (Reverso) 3:38
5. Mvmt. 2 (Reverso) 3:38
6. Mvmt. 3 (Reverso) 3:38
7. Mvmt. 1 (Directo + Reverso) 3:38
8. Mvmt. 2 (Directo + Reverso) 3:38
9. Mvmt. 3 (Directo + Reverso) 3:38

Line-up:
Saul Bitran - violin
Aron Bitran - violin
Javier Montiel - viola
Alvaro Bitran - cello


Puerto Rico composer Dan Roman has been composing music for the past couple of decades and a bit, with his material taking inspiration from a number of different sources also outside of the classical music world. Of which thrash metal is one of those sources of inspiration. The composition 'DVXNS' was written for Mexican veteran ensemble Cuarteto Latinoamericano, a quartet that has more than 4 decades behind them as a performing and recording entity. In the fall of 2024 this composition was released by US label Neuma Records, where the album contains three different interpretations of this composition.

The liner notes describe in some detail the finer details about this composition, and how it can be performed in a number of different manners. Which will be quite a treat to read through for those with a deeper interest in music theory I gather, and will make it understandable as to why we get three versions of the same material as well as explaining why there can be an almost limitless amount of variations to this specific creation.

The music here will, broadly speaking at least, fall in under the chamber music category. At least as I understand that musical tradition. The music itself is a bit more aggressive than what you often encounter in classical music however, and it is easy for me to hear where the described thrash metal inspirations have gone in the pace filled, vibrant and firm sounds delivered by the string quartet here. This is a spirited and vibrant creation, where the first and third movement in particular feature what one might describe as aggression as well as a bit of underlying darkness. The second movement is a bit of a calmer construction, more gliding and elegant, but with vibrant surges and underlying darkness being a recurring element.

In some ways I associate this three part creation with the flight of a bird, possibly trying to escape from a predator. Where the first part covers discovering the initial danger, going full panic mode into an escape attempt and getting increasingly more desperate. The second movement comes with an apparent escape from danger, but with a hypersensitivity to the surroundings making the fear and panic reappear before it returns in full towards the end. And the final movement possibly being the second attempt at flight from danger, with the fear and panic of the predator being increased with the fear and panic of pending exhaustion, but possibly with glimmers of hope for a true escape to be fulfilled as well.

Associations will obviously be a very subjective experience, but in detailing the one that came to mind for me this might hopefully also provide a little bit of an idea as to how this album sounds and how the landscapes explored comes across.

Prior to getting the CD edition of this album to review I wrote a shorter review of this production. And my overall conclusion from that write-up is one that sounds just as true to me now after having had a deeper dive into this creation: This is a production to seek out fore those who enjoy energetic and intense performances by a string quartet in a more experimental setting, and I'd hazard a guess that some fans of bands such as Apocalyptica might find this album to be an interesting one too.

Olav M. Björnsen, January 2025

Links:
http://www.foreversound.com/
https://www.cuartetolatinoamericano.com/
https://neumarecords.org/