Vinyl (double sided): Joseph M. Colombo, ‘Ouroboros’ / Danny Clay, ‘the first and the last’

Artists: Joseph M. Colombo, composer; New Keys / Danny Clay, composer; Mobius Trio; Friction Quartet

Released on Pinna Records, San Francisco, 2017

This release is a double-sided 10” EP with two very different works by two young San Franciscan composers – a piece each, on each side.

Joseph M. Colombo’s piece Ouroboros is a work for two pianos and four players. The quartet plays overlapping, descending notes that flow downwards, starting over and over again. The title Ouroboros refers to the ancient symbol of the serpent swallowing it’s own tail in an infinite cycle and is represented on the cover by my illustration of the ‘Penrose stairs’ (as made famous by Escher).

Danny Clay’s piece the first and the last is quite an emotional work, played with guitars and strings, with the themes of leaving with gratitude, joy and love. For me it was like sitting in a train, looking out the window in thought as a sun-filled landscape flashes by.