Clandestine
Agent Starling release their third full album ‘Clandestine’, a celebration of ten tunes, eight composed by contemporary international hurdy-gurdy players together with two new arrangements of traditional tunes. All the tracks are performed, arranged and recorded by Agent Starling.
Agent Starling’s previous releases were internationally well received and the band made number one in the EthnoCloud Mediterranean music chart 2021.
‘Experimental hurdy-gurdy on duo’s impressive debut. European Howl is a complex, immersive and at times disorienting listening experience.’ (SONGLINES July 2021)
‘Sounding like the musical offspring of Sufjan Stevens and Steve Reich’ Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music
‘I doubt very much that you will hear anything quite like this anywhere else in current music… Truly wondrous.’ (Review of Northern Lights by Neil March in Trust the Doc Issue 62 December 2022)
Agent Starling are Quentin Budworth hurdy-gurdy and vocals and Lou Duffy-Howard vocals, bass guitar and all other instruments and programming. The album also features special guest Dexter Duffy-Howard on violin, cello and harmonium. Recorded in Yorkshire UK by Agent Starling, the EP was mastered in Oregon by Kevin Carafa.
- La Sansonette (3:40)
- Hellebore (3:30)
- Djursdalapolskan (3:56)
- Napoleon in Morocco (2:39)
- Mazurka dos Irmáns Moreira (2:14)
- La Funambule (4:49)
- Principessa (5:43)
- Konvulsionslåten (3:29)
- Blue Sauscisse/Biscuit Shuffle (3:51)
- Eye of Sea (3:50)
Composers: 1. Dominique Forges, 2. Toon van Mierlo, 3.Swedish Polska trad, 4. Nigel Eaton, 5. Inspired by Germán Diaz 6. Neil Brook, 7. Maurizio Martinotti, 8. Anders Norudde, 9. Cliff Stapleton,10. Matthias Loibner. All tracks arranged by Agent Starling
Both Quentin and Lou both have strong musical provenance. Lou was originally in recently reformed prophetic UK Indie band Red Guitars and has gigged and recorded ever since, currently heading up psychedelic rock band Loudhailer Electric Company. Originally part of Suns of Arqa, hurdy-gurdy specialist Quentin is the force behind world fusion medieval rave band Celtarabia.