To her credit, Claire Fitch studied cello at  the Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal Academy of Music. Currently she is  employed by the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. Ad to that list of  credit's the fact that she has made one of the finest CDs that I have ever had  the privilege to put my ears to. From the promo "An organic mix of acoustic  cello and electronic sounds creates this ambient, spacious, introspective  feeling?I compose using Logic Platinum with a nice collection of VST instruments  and plugins." I hope you know what the technical mumbo jumbo means, if not just  know that this recording sounds like angels from outer space. Perfectly painted  sounds capes effectively bringing to life audio sensory images for the wandering  brain.
                            Read more...
                        

                            
Ambiencellist is her first release and it is an extraordinary achievement. It is a beautiful mix of ambient electronic sounds and acoustic cello that conjures up a wintry dream landscape somewhere between urban chill out music and the west of Ireland. All the electronic sounds are fabulous, rich and atmospheric, nothing new-age cheesy. Fitch's restrained cello playing is lyrical and moving and her compositional sense as an orchestral cello player keeps the music from ever straying toward the banality of much chill out music.   The music remains ultra calm throughout, just hinting at a groove on a couple of tracks. Will Fitch head off in that direction next? She's certainly set to produce an abundance of music, having, in just a couple of years, set up her own home studio. In these DIY times she has done it all. A great website with sounds, equipment lists for the benefit of other composers, and importantly CD sales.  Fitch has had a great response already to this music and I'm not surprised. I think she has found a strong voice and musical identity for herself and I hope she takes the world by storm. More power to your elbow Fitch!
                            Read more...
                        

                            
Electronic Music from Ireland. 

 Ambiencellist Claire Fitch
 http://www.fitchsounds.com ... 
 
  Most of the reviews I have written here have concentrated on traditional music but I am going to write about some contemporary music for a change. 

 Claire Fitch is a Dublin-based cellist who plays for the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. A few years ago she set up her own studio and now she has brought a solo CD out.  Round the kitchen and mind the dresser it's not, it's a combination of cello and electronic instruments and falls well into the so-called Ambient genre. The music is contemplative even introverted and there are hints of the traditional in some of the tracks but the musicianship lifts this out of the usual "ah no not anudder borin‚ new age cd" category. Of the ten tracks on the cd  it's difficult to pick out a favourite, this is not the sort of music that is going to jump up and grab you by the throat. It's music to let wash over you while you sit and contemplate, or even drink a fine whiskey, and think of white horses dancing on that other ocean.
                            Read more...