Occupying a tenuous position between his early masterworks for the Obscure label and his later, generally blander, albums recorded for ECM and Point, Gavin Bryars’ Hommages offers a tantalizing glimpse of a direction not taken. The four pieces are scored for as many as three pianos and percussion (including vibes and marimba), which are used to paint sonic images at once rigorous and dreamy. Bryars leaves no written clue as to who these homages are inspired by, but one hears echoes of Erik Satie and Percy Grainger and one in small section the rhythmic motif is clearly derived from the “Mars” portion of Holst’s The Planets. There tends to be a relatively steady minimalist pulse underneath the compositions, but above it the chords float and linger and the pulse itself occasionally hesitates, as if considering other options, before moving on. The overall atmosphere is one of purposeful calm tinged with Bryars’ trademark melancholy. A very beautiful record; one could have only hoped that the composer would have continued along this path. Highly recommended. – Brian Olewnick