Elina Duni ‘A Time To Remember’ CD (ECM) 4/5

“Lost Ships”, released in 2020, was a stunner. It was the first recording from this quartet of wonderful musicians, led of course by the exquisite vocal talents of Elina Duni. Their new release, “A Time to Remember” feels like it is a continuation of the special synergy this group shares, with an added familiarity and intuitive collaborative spirit coming to the fore, no doubt benefitting from the honed musical ideas and mutual understanding brought on by regular touring together.

As with the first album, joining vocalist Duni are Rob Luft on guitar, Matthieu Michel on flugelhorn, and Fred Thomas on piano and drums. Comprising a combination of original tunes, traditional folk songs, poems and American classics, the repertoire flows naturally like a gentle dream on a hazy, sunny afternoon. Many of the original compositions are heavily inspired by an extended spell that Duni and Luft spent in the Sinai Desert and reference the Red Sea, desert climate and nature in general. “I think this album is a reflection of our shared passion for musical storytelling, going beyond genre and language,” says Duni. “After several years on the road touring together, the slightly unconventional line-up now sits comfortably, and inhabits its own, singular world of sound.”

Duni and Luft combine beautifully. Not just in their writing duties, but also in performance with their apparent musical bond, a drifting, yet focussed musical interplay connecting the two. Their music is refreshing, sensitive, and interconnected with its haunting and expressive atmosphere. “Rob has a Sun-drenched, solar side to his playing and writing,” explains Duni, “while I tend to be drawn to darker musical colours. Combining these two contrasting elements can be a great challenge, but the result is equally rewarding.” And for the listener, indeed it is. The sincerity and authenticity of their music is also blessed with a gently adventuring spirit and joyous melancholy, making for a very rewarding listening experience.

As the title suggests, the notion of ‘time’ – in a fleeting sense – feels like a recurring theme throughout this album, connecting music from different parts of the world. The deep lyricality of the music comes in waves, flowing through the group’s combined performance like sea pebbles turning on a wind-washed summer tide. From the evocative opener “Evasion”, an original piece set to the poetry of the Belgian-Israeli poet Esther Granek, through to the stark, yet affecting closing track “I’ll be seeing you”, written by Sammy Fain and Irving Kahal, the quartet perform with warmth and togetherness, shining a welcoming light on traditional folk tunes alongside pieces by Charlie Haden, Rashid Krasniqi, and Stephen Sondheim.

Whilst I feel “A Time to Remember” perhaps doesn’t quite have the strength of emotive pull as its predecessor “Lost Ships”, it is still undoubtedly a worthy follow-up. It’s great to hear this quartet recording again, and I for one very much hope there’s more to come from them in the future as they explore further their unique sound together.

Mike Gates

Read also:
Elina Duni / Rob Luft ‘Lost Ships’ CD (ECM) 5/5
Elina Duni ‘Partir’ CD (ECM) 4/5
Elina Duni Quartet ‘Dallëndyshe’ CD (ECM) 4/5