T"echnique on the cello has evolved, moving more into the sphere of semi- pitched timbre in some cases. On this album quite a few pieces explore this pathway ... New and old shake hands in Single Form (Sarabande) by Alex Groves. The omnipotent influence of Bach's Sarabandes from the Cello Suites breezes into the invention, but in masked format. A similar strand of homage to earlier music in this case Thomas Tallis-infuses Caroline Shaw's In manus tuas. Once again, timbral exploration is the headline, with grating bows sliding into pitch and back into white noise.Other items also refer to traditional melodies such as Zoe Martlew's Salat Babilya, which transfers the Oud's style of invention to the cello, utilising only pizzicato. It's a very moving and beautiful Arabic lullaby. Likewise, Corrina Hewat's catchy My Love Dodging Rizla is firmly in the pitched Scottish folk idiom.The diversity of compositional style here is impressive ... cellist, Louise McMonagle, proves a formidable and expressive interpreter, bringing both fervour and commitment, alongside a strong range of expression to the compositions"