Boulder, CO. (Top40 Charts/ Stereophile) - Stereophile, the leading US audiophile magazine, raves about Starkland's new Larkin Gifford's Harmonica CD in their April issue. They call the composer Phillip Bimstein "an American original" and describe the CD as "stunning and heartwarming."
After noting that Starkland's previous Bimstein CD Garland Hirschi's Cows was " the ear-opening CD of 1997," Stereophile critic Dan Buckley remarks that "Bimstein has evolved into a singular musical entity."
In the distinctive Larkin Gifford's Harmonica CD, the Utah-based "alternative classical" composer offers five pieces with western roots. Listeners hear a poignant portrait of the elderly, harmonica-playing Larkin Gifford; the delightful beer vendor Robert "Bushy Wushy" Logan; a philosophizing Las Vegas dice caller; and two instrumental works focusing on Zion National Park and Rockville, Utah (birthplace of Garland Hirschi).
The Stereophile reviewer is entranced by these "quirky, moving, and delightful musical journeys," concluding, "By the end, you wish you could meet all these guys, as well as Bimstein himself. You feel as if you have a sense of them and things they love."
Founded in 1962 by J. Gordon Holt, Stereophile is today regarded as one of the most influential audiophile magazines in the world. With the largest US circulation of any audiophile publication, Stereophile each month reaches over 70,000 equipment enthusiasts and music aficionados.
Multiple-Grammy winner John Adams wrote the CD's warmly enthusiastic Introduction, stating: "Like their composer, the pieces on this album communicate a generous and good-natured spirit that is tempered with wry wit and a special sense of the western landscape and culture that he so loves."
Regarding the composer's musical depictions, Adams notes that "Bimstein has an enviable knack for choosing spoken narratives that reminds me of the filmmaker Errol Morris."
The New York Times also recently praised this new Starkland CD. The prestigious publication applauded "the irresistible charm of Mr. Bimstein's music" and "his uncanny knack for finding the music of everyday life."
These impressive reviews have brought increased attention to the adventurous Starkland label for its pioneering efforts and excellent recordings over the years. The influential Sequenza21 website writes, "Props to our amigo Tom Steenland who has been producing great avant-garde recordings on his Starkland label from Boulder for many years now." They note "It isn't every day that a CD from a small label makes the New York Times."
Starkland has commissioned works from such leading composers as Paul Dresher, Phil Kline, Lukas Ligeti, Ingram Marshall, Merzbow, "MacArthur genius" Meredith Monk, Pauline Oliveros, Carl Stone, and Pamela Z.
Starkland commissioned all the music on its Immersion DVD exclusively for high-resolution surround sound, and this landmark release is now recognized as the first such recording in history.
Bimstein's previous, very popular Starkland CD was also widely acclaimed, generated hundreds of calls to radio stations, and was deemed "a cult classic" on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered." Stereophile called Bimstein "brilliantly original... outstanding in his field... a talent to watch." Stereo Review praised the CD for its "immediacy, wit, and inventiveness," and Wired was charmed by this "quirky and thoroughly engaging" CD.
Read more about Garland Hirschi's Cows at: www.starkland.com/st205/index.htm
