THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
SATURDAY MAY 21, 2005
CD REVIEW
THE ART OF GARETH KOCH
A GUITAR ANTHOLOGY
GARETH Koch, one of four acoustic guitar virtuosos in the group Saffire, had a remarkable solo career in Europe and Australia through the 1980s and '90s. This four-CD set showcases his extraordinary array of musical styles and ideas, including his excellent adaptation of Carl Orff's choral and orchestral masterwork Carmina Burana. My favourite among the four CDs is The Fragrance of Paradise, a reissue of a 1999 recording of self-written solo pieces inspired by medieval myths and legends. There's a faint whiff of Morocco on this album, achieved through flamenco playing techniques and percussive sounds that emulate North African drums. The other two CDs, She Moved Through the Fair and Espana!, are collections of Spanish, Celtic and Australian-inspired pieces, and amply demonstrate Koch's emotional range, with moods by turns temperate and tempestuous. His playing is never less than brilliant.