Far Corner - Risk
SKU
Rune 449
“Far Corner plays insanely complex instrumental chamber rock (modern classical meets prog rock) and I can easily say that Risk was the most challenging record I’ve ever played on.” – William Kopecky
“... three of the four members of Far Corner (keyboardist and chief composer Dan Maske, cellist Angela Schmidt and percussionist Craig Walkner) have music degrees from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and have clearly logged in some serious practice, rehearsal and performance time. The fourth member, bassist William Kopecky, has more than paid his dues in numerous prog rock bands and he displays impressive facility on his instrument. (He can also rock really hard, and provides a useful ground for the more ethereal tendencies of his academic colleagues.)” – Bill Tilland / AllMusic
William Kopecky – bass
Dan Maske – keyboards
Angela Schmidt – cello
Craig Walkner – drums
with
Jerry Loughney – violin
On the 15th anniversary of their founding, we are very pleased, after a very long wait, to be working again with the wonderful, American, chamber-rock ensemble Far Corner for the third time with the release of their long-awaited third album Risk.
Composed in a contemporary classical style, Far Corner’s music combines influences from 20th century composers such as Stravinsky, Ives and Bartok with ambitious progressive rock bands such as ELP, Aranis, Univers Zero, Present, Henry Cow and more. .
Performed by highly skilled, trained and experienced musicians who subvert their egos to let the compositions be the stars, and played with the energy and power of rock, Far Corner’s music is stunningly original, refreshingly accessible and highly entertaining.
Founded in 2003, a year later Cuneiform released the band’s self titled debut recording. In 2007, the group released their second album, Endangered, which added more improvisation to the group’s mix, while also keeping the flag flying for thorough composed works as well.
After Endangered, Far Corner continued to perform live, preparing and presenting new music and planning for a third album. But before much could be accomplished, Craig and William were presented with exciting career opportunities which required Craig to move out of state and William to move out of country. Rather than make Far Corner – always a ‘real, live band’ – into a ‘file-sharing project’, it was decided that Dan would continue to compose for the group and to send all members the scores for their feedback and for them to rehearse to, but that the recording would wait for the opportunity for all four musicians to be in the same room together, playing live as an ensemble in the studio. Hence the long delay between release number two and three.
Despite the delay and the geographic difficulties, Risk is the group’s most ambitiously composed work so far and rigorous composition is one of the main modus operandi of the group! I would not hesitate to call it their best!
- LabelCuneiform
- UPC045775044927