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Nardoo

'Nardoo' present a tapestry of original music from a melting pot of jazz, ethnic and medieval influences. This album of improvisations presents the duo of Zana Clarke and Peter Biffin performing new and traditional wind and string instruments.

Conditions right for a flower of new Australian music to bloom.

Nardoo - an Australian aquatic plant with the ability to lie dormant in dry mud for many years until nourished by rain. With the right conditions, the plant flourishes, and the cracked and dry surface is transformed into a cover of small delicate blooms.

With the right conditions firmly established, new Australian duo Nardoo have created a vital, flourishing mix of musical ideas in a collection of improvisations from a wide variety of stylistic influences.

Performing on a mix of new and traditional wind and string instruments, Nardoo present a soundscape of exotic and hauntingly beautiful aural images. This new Australian duo weave a tapestry of original music from a melting pot of jazz, ethnic and medieval influences.

Recorder player Zana Clarke performs traditional wind instruments in this new context: "I feel I have a link into another musical world" states Clarke on the release of Nardoo's self-titled debut CD, "where composing and improvising become vital, and where I can move from the rigours of fixed forms towards a new freedom of expression."

Such freedom of expression can be heard on many of the tracks. The weaving melodies of 'Oscillation' reflect a mixture of medieval and ethnic melodies. The jazzy chords of 'Once Upon A Time' suggest more of a western influence.

For the other member of Nardoo, Peter Biffin, music is free and loose. He is especially interested in improvising within a whole host of different musical styles. "In 1977 I began to redesign the instruments I was playing so they could cover more of the music I was interested in" states Biffin. "Designing, making and playing my own instruments ('tar-hu' - a long-necked bowed instrument with four playing strings and seven sympathetic strings, and 'deboosh' - a large fretless dobro guitar) enables me to create new sounds that express my creativity like never before".

Elements rising, binding, a rock caught in crystalline form, a body dissolving and scattered as dust on the wind. The mineral world carries on its timeless business, having no care for where it is borne. These are the images brought to light by Nardoo in a unique blend of improvised new music.

Artist

Nardoo

Peter Biffin and Zana Clarke are Nardoo. Peter is renowned for developing and creating his own instruments and Zana is one of Australia's leading recorder players.


Press quote

“Zana Clarke and Peter Biffin ... have created a definite Middle Eastern flavour, heightened by a bit of jazz spice”

— Janet Croft, The New Englander

Audio preview

Track Listing

  1. Willow Zana Clarke Peter Biffin
  2. Lady Gray Zana Clarke Peter Biffin
  3. Night Prowler Peter Biffin
  4. Once Upon a Time Zana Clarke Peter Biffin
  5. Sunday Sunday Zana Clarke Peter Biffin
  6. Taboosh Zana Clarke Peter Biffin
  7. Cherry Brandy Peter Biffin
  8. Apple Blossom Zana Clarke Peter Biffin
  9. Oscillation Zana Clarke Peter Biffin
  10. Tundra Zana Clarke Peter Biffin
  11. Fragment Longing Zana Clarke
  12. Bihag Zana Clarke Peter Biffin
  13. The Fox Zana Clarke Peter Biffin
  14. Inner Edge Peter Biffin
  15. Solace Zana Clarke
  16. Charles Street Zana Clarke Peter Biffin
  17. Madeira Zana Clarke Peter Biffin
  18. Aldebaran Peter Biffin

Performers

  • Zana Clarke · ganassi recorder · all except tracks 3, 7, 14 and 18
  • Peter Biffin · tar-hu, deboosh · all except tracks 11 and 15

Where to buy

Nardoo is available for download from the iTunes Music Store.
It's available for streaming through Apple Music.

Nardoo is available as as CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer secure online ordering.

Move CDs can be ordered through music retailers across Australia including Readings.

Product details

List price
$25.00 AUD
Engineer
Martin Wright
Vaughan McAlley
Release date
1996
Copyright
© 1996 Move Records
Phonogram
℗ 1996 Move Records
Categories
Australian, Cross-cultural, Folk music
Catalogue number
MD 3188
Alternate catalogue number
MD3188
Barcode
EAN 9314574318821