Already a successful composer for film and TV, Emmy Award-winning Michael Price joins artists such as Nils Frahm on independent label Erased Tapes for the release of his debut album. Entanglement is an evocative and cinematic blend of acoustics and electronics, neatly displaying the intersection between neoclassical music and screen composition.

Price used technology old and new in the recording of the album, capturing street sounds on a mobile phone for the track ‘Budapest’, and using vintage 1940s recording equipment for the production of ‘The Attachment’. In doing this, Price aimed for a retro pre-digital aesthetic, but also for a ‘timeless emotive power.’

Expert instrumental writing and intelligent application of electronics stop this emotional appeal from becoming mawkish. On ‘Budapest’, soaring strings are layered with crawling synths and sparkling electronics to create an effervescent texture. The track ‘Entanglement’ would come over as pompous were it not for some marvellous Schubertian string writing.

The album slightly falls foul of its extreme thoughtfulness and introspection; Entanglement is crafted and restrained but never daring, and lacks the verve to be truly striking. It is, however, testament to an artist who is expert at crafting subtle and evocative soundscapes.

Originally published on Sinfini Music.