Back catalogue: Leftfield

Review: Erland Cooper's latest album, Carve the Runes Then Be Content With Silence, is a unique and innovative project. The three-movement composition for solo violin and string ensemble commemorates the centenary of Orkney poet George Mackay Brown. Inspired by natural landscapes, the work reflects on themes of time, hope, community, and patience. The recording of the composition was made on 14 inch magnetic tape, with the digital files then permanently deleted. The tape has been planted to be "recomposed" by the earth, to be exhumed and released in three years' time. Cooper's decision to let the composition evolve naturally and be discovered later reflects a deeper appreciation for the passage of time and the process of creation. This project not only celebrates a significant milestone but also challenges the conventional approach to releasing music, making it a truly remarkable and thought-provoking endeavour.