Sophie Agnel
Detour Tunnels of Light
"In my experience listening to the music of both Martin Küchen and Sophie Agnel, I’ve often detected what I perceive to be a (sometimes hidden) strain of romanticism, a deep and dark vaguely lyrical content that one doesn’t routinely identify with free improvisers. With Küchen, this could be heard most prominently in his solo recordings such as ‘The Lie and the Orphanage’ (Mathka, 2010) or ‘Hellstorm’ (Mathka, 2012). I had also heard Agnel give a memorable solo piano recital in Västerås, Sweden …
Animals
"Radical playing techniques, curiosity and the exploration of sound possibilities create constant tension. Their first trio release Animals brings together 13 tracks full of twists and turns, creative lightness and complex virtuosity."
Gargorium
A Fou Records production, like a large part of the music of its producer, Jean-Marc Foussat, is a bit of a puzzle.
La Pierre Tachée
"… a kind of ideal duet, no imitation conversation but two simultaneous composers each repeatedly provoked and silenced, prodded and enchanted by the other…" – Stuart Broomer (liner notes) Sophie Agnel piano John Butcher tenor and soprano saxophones
Marguerite d'Or Pâle
Sophie Agnel, piano, Daunik Lazro, tenor and bariton saxophones. Recorded at Dom, Moscow, June 22, 2016 by Maxim Khaykin
“C'était à Moscou au déclin d'une journée printanière particulièrement chaude. Deux citoyens firent leur apparition...”
Mikhaïl Boulgakov
isotopic
Cremaster: Ferran Fages - feedback mixing board, electro-acoustic devices / Alfredo Costa Monteiro - objects on electric guitar, electro-acoustic devices & Sophie Agnel: piano. Recorded separately in Barcelona and Montreuil between 2009 and 2011. Final assemblage in March 2012. Mastered by Ferran Fages. Between 2010 and 2012 Cremaster started a series of collaborations with Sophie Agnel and Angharad Davies. After more than 10 years dealing with electro-acoustic devices they wanted to go further,…
Reps
Sophie Agnel, piano. Olivier Benoit, guitare. Recorded at Césaré, July 2011. Highly recommended ! 'In my mind, the music of Sophie Agnel and Olivier Benoit has always contained something like a disclosure of the intimate. They are not overly prolific when it comes to phonographic output. They have no time for superfluous chit-chat. This is their second opus in almost fifteen years of collaboration, and in this sense, Reps is a finely selected jewel bearing witness to the sensitivity that animate…
Capsizing moments
A veritable tour de force of 'inside' prepared piano playing - preppiano extensif. The whole of a solo set performed at Les Instants Chavirés near Paris. Sophie Agnel's preparations, neither static nor fixed, evolve during the course of her playing as she adds, moves or removes an object, or replaces one artefact with another. These preparations include disposable water cups, nylon fishing-line, bouncing balls, aluminium ashtrays, aluminium foil, industrial nylon, inner-tube rubber and polished …