Acclaimed international piano trio Trio Casals release their fourth album via installment Navona Records's Moto series. The album interprets nine new American compositions – virtually all of them either tailor-made or arranged for the ensemble...

Moto Quarto contains 12 tracks (1 hr, 14 sec) of modern compositions by nine composers. The album opens with 'Three for Three' by David Nisbet Stewart, which pretty much sets the mood for what is to come.

While they're all very different compositions, what is enjoyable about this collection is that it manages to elicit a wide variety of emotional responses in the listener.

This works bests when put on in the background, allowing the music to wash over you, before you spend a little more time getting to know it more intimately. If you try to focus on the tracks on the first play through, you'll probably not enjoy it as much as if you spend a little time soaking up the ambiance.

'Totentanz', the album's closer is a trippy piece that wonderfully straddles the line between classical music and experimental jazz. It reminded me of the sort of themes that comedy series Spaced would have playing in the background.

It's an enjoyable, beautifully presented collection of pieces.

Track listing:

David Nisbet Stewart
Three for Three
01 - Jitterbug (2:45)
02 - Pastorale (3:13)
03 - Scherzo (4:07)

Emma-Ruth Richards
04 - Dark Radiance for solo cello (6:00)

Joanne D. Carey
05 - Piano Trio No. 2 (6:04)

Allyson B. Wells
06 - Since Then (7:51)

L Peter Deutsch
07 - Sunset at Montélimar (4:18)

Christopher Brakel
08 - Poem for violoncello solo (4:38)

Clare Shore
Day Tripping
09 - Peace at Dawn (3:43)
10 - Juniper Run (3:10)

Keith Kramer
11 - Suspension of Disbelief (6:36)

Mathew Fuerst
12 - Totentanz (7:54)

7

Darren Rea