Teho Teardo - Ballyturk

  by Maarten Schiethart

published: 18 / 1 / 2015

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Review

Multi-instrumentalist and film soundtrack composer Teho Teardo received an invitation from Enda Walsh, and, feeble as the proposal seemed, Teardo agreed to it. Scriptwriter Walsh, fascinated as he was, could not have fathomed how this would ultimately lead to the culmination of grand gestures and apt orchestration on one single album. It is Walsh's album in a sense. Overwhelming from the very start, Teardo opened all cupboards and with great grace followed the choreography written down by Walsh. From the onset, Teardo's fascination in the reading of a captivating narrative receives great help from the heavy-weight cello orchestration. Chords follow words. The mystical vapour of the album marks another majestic quality. Its haunting beauty decides to stay in the shadows though and only on a few moments feels dignified enough to show its proper face. The subdued qualities on this album are so many though, but there's no escape. The words are quite random, but they don't distract from the music. The mention of the subtle harpsichord, which gently appears on a couple of tracks, will help to build a better picture of the cinematic qualities on 'Ballyturk'. It's genuine Kopfkinomusik though; the new word for music which evokes innermind landscapes, perhaps equal to the inner dialogues in your brain. Very much the music of the season, 'Ballyturk' is considerate and compassionate. Philharmonic in a way only a folk music duo could sound like without knowing its actual destiny, the album was however recorded by Teardo in Rome and London with the help of just a few befriended musicians. It includes recitals from Cillian Murphy and Mikel Murfi; and the snare ensemble of Lori Goldston, Martina Bertoni, Nick Holland, Stefano Azzolina, Venessa Cremaschi and Elena de Stabili, who were of instrumental help on this surprise jewel.

Track Listing:-

1 Poisonous His Envy
2 Kitchen, Infinity
3 Foreboding
4 Everything I Thought There Was to
5 Let's Not Talk About Us
6 Just Maybe
7 It Needs a Death
8 The Outside Force

Band Links:-

http://tehoteardo.com/
https://www.facebook.com/teho.teardo