/ press

Moments of Optimism
(MAR006-2)

Some partnerships, were meant to be. Dva - pronounced "d-vah", and meaning "two" in Macedonian - consists of Linsey Pollak and Tunji Beier. It is unique in both instrumentation and output, Pollak having invented many of the wind instruments he plays.

As well as conventional clarinet (and bagpipes, not deployed here), there are assorted narrow-bore clarinets of his own devising, made from bamboo, aluminium and wood. Then there are two bass clarinets: one wooden and another extraordinary glass device called "Rosella", heard to haunting effect on the pensive Moments of Optimism. Beier, meanwhile, plays an array of hand-drums from Africa, India and points in between.

Bistrishko Horo has a spiralling level of excitement over the 11/8 rhythm, clarinet and tambourine urging and daring each other on. This segues into the contemplative Mesechina, the clarinet managing to sound both melancholy and defiant against the tripping hand-drumming.

Their combined influences - primarily the music of Eastern Europe, India and Africa - add up to a swirl of colours as they enjoy almost telepathic dialogues on self-penned or traditional compositions, which give way to thrilling improvisations. Dva is at the forefront of Australian creative music.

"September issue of Limelight (Magazine of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation) by John Shand"

Sleeve notes written for dva’s 3rd cd:
“six four five eight six four seven eight”

Even the dullest of us are fascinated by difference. Watch a child stare at a disabled person, a crowd gather at the scene of an accident, or heads turn at a man in a purple suit. Some get it from sci-fi films, fantasy novels or drugs, some from exotic food, wondrous places or meeting new people.

What's at stake is a sense of having one's life expanded from a just room, a suburb or even a country into something approaching the infinite. It can be derided as escapism - sometimes true - but such instinctive curiosity is also what broadens minds, fires imaginations and breeds tolerance.

"PRIVATE"

“six four five eight six four seven eight”

Tunji Beier and Linsey Pollak offer a path to the same destination via music. To enter their sonic world is to dare to leave the known behind, and to step back in time to what it was like when you first heard music as a child. Often you don't know how the sounds are made, but you are prepared to give yourself up to them and be rewarded by the wonder, the playfulness, the piercing melancholy and the flashes of wit.

Then there is the implicit beauty of those sounds, and the seamless way that ancient instruments and exotic new inventions blend, as do acoustic instruments and digital technology. Behind those sounds, behind the vibrant composing and improvising, lie two rampant imaginations, harnessed to a fierce discipline of performance.

After two magical live CDs, this is the duo's first studio album, and each piece is will take you somewhere you - and often the musicians! - haven't been before: other worldly sounds that are always intensely, irrepressibly human.

"John Shand, The Sydney Morning Herald and Limelight."

listen to mp3

“six four five eight six four seven eight”
ebenezer.mp3
lik lik.mp3
soursop.mp3

Moments of Optimism
moments 1.mp3
moments 2,mp3
moments 3.mp3

dva - live
track 1.mp3
track 2.mp3
track 3.mp3