Cellophonics: Wood on the Tracks

The Strad Issue: October 2026

Description: An unorthodox quartet scores highly on passion

Musicians: Cellophonics

Works: Music by Alwyn, Baggs, Barker, Bowen, Dare, Elms, Simpson and Sutherland

Catalogue number: SOMM SOMMCD0731 

With its astonishingly wide range and its supple, expressive power, the CD’s booklet note argues, the cello quartet is uniquely convincing as a single-instrument ensemble. If you need any further proof, however, the muscular, strongly projected performances from Cellophonics – comprising Christopher Allan, Ian Burdge, Adrian Bradbury and Ben Rogerson – leave little room for doubt here.

It’s a slight shame, then, that there isn’t more variety among the collection of pieces – all original works for cello quartet, and all but one receiving their first recordings – on this nonetheless enlightening and enjoyable disc. The four players bring impeccable unity of tone and purpose to York Bowen’s opening Suite, making great play of the composer’s restlessly shifting textures, though William Alwyn’s Two Irish Tunes are beautifully shaped, if rather lightweight.

Among the disc’s five new works that Cellophonics has commissioned, Julia Simpson’s gently jazzy, butterfly-inspired Mariposa spins its material a little thinly over its 13-minute duration, despite a sensitive and colourful performance, and Simon Baggs exploits the ensemble’s mix of richness and clarity in his sorrowful Soliloquy. Jazz trumpeter and composer Guy Barker’s Wood on the Tracks, however, contains some of the disc’s most inventive writing, its two train-themed movements harnessing the quartet’s sonic capabilities in big grooves and mischievous wit, which the cellists convey with enormous spirit and insight. The players are captured in close, rich sound.

DAVID KETTLE