ANDY CREEGGAN: Andiwork II

Andy Creeggan

Andiwork II

© 2004 Bongo Beat Records (767000196729)

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A wonderful dreamy instrumental collection of ambient and soft classical moods distilling influences as diverse as Duke Ellington, Claude Debussy, and Maurice Ravel; incorporating choirs, string quartets, muted brass and much more... a mesmerising mood.

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* original member of Barenaked Ladies from 1989 - 1995, left band after 2nd lp to study musical composition at McGill University, Montreal, for five years

* this is his second solo CD


* records and tours with his brother Jim Creeggan (Ladies bassist) as The Brothers Creeggan (latest CD on Nettwerk)

* Jim Creeggan (Barenaked Ladies) plays bass on majority of the tracks

* CD is a wonderful dreamy instrumental collection of ambient and soft classical moods distilling influences as diverse as Duke Ellington, Claude Debussy, and Maurice Ravel; incorporating choirs, string quartets, muted brass and much more... a mesmerising mood album for a quiet late night....


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Andy Creeggan had it all but he wanted more. As a founding member of The Barenaked Ladies, Andy saw the group rise from obscurity to top of the charts, but, it wasn't for him. "I wanted space for my music, my personality. I was always very interested in instrumental music and I wanted to take advantage of having been accepted at the Faculty of Music at McGill University in Montreal and really pursue theory and composition."

Along with his brother Jim Creeggan (Barenaked Ladies bass player), Andy was brought up in a musical household in which their mother taught piano and their father played by ear. The Creeggans are a family that lives for music. As such, the two brothers also perform and record as The Brothers Creeggan, releasing three cds thus far and touring between Barenaked Ladies albums.

Andiwork II is Andy Creeggan's second solo album and the first to be nationally distributed. It is an understated and quietly complex work that showcases a young composer weaving textural ambient pieces that draw from classical, jazz, new age and even 50s exotica with an underlying dry humour that will occassionally rise to the forefront (an excerpt with Andy coaxing his dad in the studio, for example). It is cinematic in scope and breadth and yet comfortable enough to work as a late night chill album for background sonics. Featuring members of the Toronto Symphony and drummers Ian McLauchlan (Brothers Creeggan) and Mark McLean (of the acclaimed Jane Bunnett jazz ensemble).

Some background on the compositions:
- Sparrows; for ensemble of 8 flutes. This work was commissioned on behalf of the Ensemble Contemporain de Montreal (ECM) and was premiered at the Montreal Conservatory of Music.

- Prelude and Lullaby for chamber ensemble. This work was premiered by the McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble.

reviews

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  • andiwork ii is wonderful!
    author: Triena

    I love this cd. Lullaby, Viola no. 2, Viola no. 5, and Dorian are wonderful for meditation or just relaxing. Green and With Dad are my favorite tracks. The rest of the cd is equally wonderful to listen to throughout the day, especially while I'm trying to get through my day at work.

  • Eclectic, odd, distinctly Andy and musical in every sense of the word
    author: Mia

    While it's probably not for every ear out there, it certainly is different, experimental, structured and about a thousand other desriptions that I can't fit here. There are a lot of flavors in this release, so I find it a welcome change from the everyday. Very nice!

  • author: Tamara Turner, CD Baby

    Distinct in his innovation, Creeggan starts with a jazz base, as a common, grounding foundation while the winding, rebellious extremities of melody and theme wander into odd, mischievous, discolored rooms and off-the-wall territories with ease, conviction and curiosity. From smoky, weaving lines of experimental classical gems to gorgeous, reverberating thought-pinchers to the thunk of the udu to electronic play and smeared harmonies over rubberband textures to hiccuping tavern songs and circus like crazes, each individual track steps forward with confidence into a sound world of unknowns, a kind of dream world shared with Danny Elfman and Claude Bolling, but never is this adventure undertaken with a hint of tenuity. It's a clever, adult sized screenplay for the ears, a cartoon that stabs you in the funny bone one moment then has you awestruck the next. Absolutely brilliant. Adjectives in motion.

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