A selection of works by Elliott Miles McKinley has been released by Navona Records. The Shadow Dancer collects together 3 pieces (10 tracks - 1 hr, 18 min, 29 sec), all recent chamber works, all centred on a common theme: memories of love...

It's weird how different styles can signify varied emotions in each of us. Not for a second would I have guessed that the works on Elliott Miles McKiney's Shadow Dancer revolved around memories of love. Emotionally, I'd describe this as containing images of angst, fear, uncertainty and reflection... but then I suppose all of those could be loosely incorporated under the "love" umbrella.

I was hoping for a few more heart wrenchingly moving segments, or anything that truly focused on the beauty of love... or life. What we end up with are emotionally shallow pieces that are technically flawless but don't really engage the listener on any raw level.

It's worlds apart from the composer's previous release: Three Scenes: Modern Chamber Works.

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Darren Rea