by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

Cellist Peter Gregson releases a self-titled album, his most profound and direct expression yet.

This is partly because his set-up is a very personal one, his cello complemented by a homemade synthesizer. As he describes in the press release, “A modular synthesizer typically would have an oscillator, and then go into filters, maybe a sequencer, reverb, delays – things to create a complete sound world”.

The synthesizer is entirely in thrall to the cello, with a mic input allowing him to use every sound the cello makes, at a wide range of frequencies, for expressive purposes. This he does on the album, with nine fluid and personal pieces.

What’s the music like?

Intimate – but with surprising and pleasing twists and turns along the way.

Vision is cleverly realised and highly expressive, using treated pizzicato to good effect from the outset.

Constellation repeats the trick but with a more obviously poppy riff, the pizzicato supporting a songful line, over which Gregson develops an appealing electronic chatter that becomes ever more mesmerising.

Song is at the heart of utterances such as Ritual and Prayer, which by their titles are more inward looking pieces but where Gregson also reveals the influence of composers who wrote more explicitly for the cello, such as Ernest Bloch.

Does it all work?

Yes, it does – Gregson plays with a beautiful sound, and the electronic enhancements are tastefully and thoughtfully applied.

Is it recommended?

It is, both for those looking for periods of reflection and for listeners who enjoy the creative process laid bare..

For fans of… Max Richter, Julia Kent, Nils Frahm, Ryan Teague

Listen / Buy

Published post no.2,553 – Tuesday 3 June 2025