Donauwellenreiter

DONAUWELLENREITER Euphoria "Euphoria" is the third album of the Viennese quartet DONAUWELLENREITER, consisting of Maria Craffonara (vocals, violin), Thomas Castañeda (piano), Jörg Mikula (drums) and Lukas Lauermann (cello). Right from the start, the first piece "Zagabunga" draws you into the fascinating and complex sound world of this internationally active collective of high-class instrumentalists. The built up tension and curiosity of this piece is then released and rewarded with "Ecstasy in Stubenberg" and the following eight compositions, which take you on a further journey full of new discoveries and unexpected moments. Following the last album "Messëi" (Intuition, 2014), the quartet's most valid artistic statement so far, DONAUWELLENREITER has further evolved in its music and now presents its new work that has been exclusively written and recorded by this ensemble. Needless to say, the new songs are quite masterful. Together with producer Alexander Nefzger, who will be releasing "Euphoria" on his label, the musicians have been working on this album since February 2016 and have heavily invested their time, blood, sweat and tears to create the best possible material. Each member of the ensemble contributed to the album with at least one composition. Arrangements, sound and performances merge into an impressive whole, the overall gesture is - as the title suggests - sometimes quite "large", almost "symphonic". With a boundless passion for (occasional) breaks, various creative approaches and experiments with contrasts, DONAUWELLENREITER has created music - Art music? Advanced art song? Fictional world folklore? - that is equally intellectual and sensual, connecting the heart and mind in breathtaking listening moments of feeling and "understanding", which go beyond any words and terminologies (feeling no euphoria in "Euphoria" seems to be impossible, just like not having any stories or images appear with "Put Your Shadows Together"...). "Euphoria" gives us a sonic insight into the sensitivities and approaches of the four involved musicians, all of whom are in demand musicians on their own, but have long since left their "band commitment phobia" for mutual activities with DONAUWELLENREITER. "Euphoria" combines the varied and nuanced musical vocabulary of this collective to a common language that only DONAUWELLENREITER could master. As "Euphoria" beautifully concludes with "Cör Endesnü", one of the three songs sung in Ladin (some vocals were recorded in the Jesuit Church in Vienna), the central qualities of this music are once again revealed. We may not understand everything word for word, but then again we do understand everything - every syllable, every note, every tone, every pause, every new start... "Euphoria" is a gift, and a wonderful one at that. New album «EUPHORIA» Release 25/11/2016