The Island

reviews

Gramophone
'For quarter of a century now, Alexander Balanescu has been finding ways to synthesise facets of his Romanian heritage with those of contemporay music - for example ‘The Island’ which takes in new and unexpected directions. (...) Although it uses the outline of the Robinson Crusoe story, ‘The Island’ quickly sets off on its own course in which the humorous, the bizarre and the fateful are brought into effective accord. (...) Finely recorded and stylishly presented, the sequence makes an absorbing and effective listen.’ (november 2011)

De Volkrant
Touching and light hearted
The Island is based on a play by the Romanian surrealist Gellu Naum, who himself was inspired by Robinson Crusoe's story. The result is touchting and light hearted at the same time, including tongue in cheek anecdotes about pirates. (www.volkskrant.nl, Ton Maas, 27/4/2011)

Moorsmagazine.com
In everything I'm going to say about this album I must be careful that the reader does not immediately run away, so I'll start by saying that this is the funniest and most compelling album that I've heard the last ten years. The Island is an absurdist mini-opera in which classical music, rock, balkan, jazz, minimal music and serious avant-garde seem to come together. No, read a little longer. The difference with most avant-garde is that here it is allowed to laugh, for the absurdist lyrics of the Romanian writer Gellu Naum, turning the story of Robinson Crusoe completely inside out, are occasionally hilarious.

Alexander Balanescu is a virtuoso violinist who, with his string quartet, is on an adventure for over a quarter of a century. He has played with Michael Nyman, Gavin Bryars, Rabih Abu Khalil, but also with Ornette Coleman and David Byrne. If Balanescu plays they are not only a virtuoso players, butthey also have passion, pure energy and total devotion. Ada Milea is a Romanian actress and singer, and together they came up with this project, where lyrics and music complement each other perfectly. Ocassionally you almost fall off your chair for sheer laughter, but the music is often simply riveting and moving. Here is everything that makes avant-garde fun compressed into a crackling musical feast from beginning to end. Absolutely magnificent. A sublime masterpiece! (www.moorsmagazine.com, 20/4/2011)