« After You, Mr. Gershwin » from Béla Kovács
« Off Piste » from Svante Henryson
Pizzicato
« The four Swiss musicians of the Tetrapod Ensemble, Nuriia Khasenova flute, Damien Bachmann, clarinet, Christoph Croisé, violoncello, and François-Xavier Poizat, piano, want to discover, that is their motto, exciting contemporary works. They have recorded some for their first CD. {…} Guillaume Connesson’s colorful Techno Parade is dedicated to the three virtuosos who premiered the work: pianist Eric Le Sage, clarinetist Paul Meyer and flutist Emmanuel Pahud. As the composer put it, « Written for flute, clarinet and piano, my Techno Parade consists of one movement with a steady beat from beginning to end. Two infectiously vital motifs swirl around and bang into each other, giving the piece at once a festive and unsettling character. » After this percussive interruption, « the three instruments are drawn into a rhythmic trance, ending the piece at a frenetic pace. » And that’s exactly what you hear in this riveting performance, in which Damien Bachmann’s virtuosity is totally. »
Klassik heute – Holger Sambale
« Die vier Musiker des Tetrapod Ensembles bilden eine ausgesprochen homogene, aufeinander abgestimmte Formation. In Kovacs After you, Mr. Gershwin ist sicherlich Damien Bachmanns nuanciertes, frei schwingendes Spiel hervorzuheben, man beachte hier aber auch das subtile Ausleuchten der Nebenstimmen durch François-Xavier Poizat am Klavier. »
Fanfare Magazine – Huntley Dent
« By New Music standards, this album veers sharply toward the accessible, conservative side, so general listeners will enjoy themselves, and the selections are imaginatively chosen from first to last. The strongest focus is on the clarinetist, and Bachmann is outstanding in the role of first among equals. You don’t need an adventurous ear to venture inside this thoroughly engaging olla podrida. »