#float (2022)

Renowned in his native Poland, and increasingly recognised internationally as an opera composer of significance, Stanisław Moniuszko (1819–1872) could always be relied on for superb music drama. Despite this reputation, his final opera Paria long remained his least frequently staged. Now, however, its touching story of love, exclusion and the power of social rules can be relished in this concert version that was awarded First Prize in the Rediscovered Work category at the 2021 International Opera Awards. Conducted by internationally acclaimed Jacek Kaspszyk, and with a star cast in an all-Polish production from the superb Poznań State Moniuszko Opera Orchestra and Chorus, this is an opportunity to savour a rarely recorded work.

Naked Truth fuses the polyrhythmic electro-acoustic beats of King Crimson and Stickmen drummer Pat Mastelotto, the fuzz-inflected lines of electric bassist and producer Lorenzo Feliciati, and the jazz-informed textures of Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3 organ, piano and synthesizer player Roy Powell, and finally the unique voice of avant-jazz cornetist Graham Haynes. On Ouroboros, their second release, the members of Naked Truth push the envelope of contemporary electric instrumental music, an edgy blend of jazz, prog-rock, ambient music and electronica. The opener, “Dust” pits aggressively driving rhythms from Feliciati and Mastelotto against the relaxed, ambient textures of Powell’s spacious piano and Haynes’ lyrical cornet work floating over the top in half-time.