RÊVE: CD REVIEW - The Guardian
November 2007

Rêve features three substantial works by Brian Lock, best known as a film composer, with Land Girls and The Gambler to his credit. The opening Concerto for Clarinet, Percussion, Birds & Computers features soloist Neyire Ashworth, while Concerto for the Sound of a Harp & Other Sounds has Hugh Webb on harp. There are similarities to Graham Fitkin's electro-collaborations with Ruth Wall, though Lock favours sweeter harmonies: the second movement of the clarinet "concerto" veers towards chill-out jazz. The third movement is tougher, with a hint of Louis Andriessen's brutality and a more explicitly "classical" part for Ashworth. One challenge faced by composers who work in this way is deciding whether each piece is a duet for soloist and multi-instrumentalist or an ersatz orchestra. To be small - or spacious? Though Lock manages his resources well, he writes like someone who would rather think big.

RÊVE: CD REVIEW - Time Out
October 2007

A film and media composer, Lock's worked with many leading art-house directors. With 'classical' loosely as its jumping off point the resulting sound encompasses electronica, laptops, recorded bird song, the sound of a food processor, crunching industrial beats, electric harp, clarinet, and the obligatory dog barking. The result is a compelling mix of the tunefully accessible and edgily experimental.

RÊVE: CD REVIEW - Muso
October 2007

Away from his commercial work for film scores film scores, composer Brian Lock is developing what he terms a 'hybridisation of genres', drawing together film sound design, classical, world, dance music. Without boundaries between sources of music and sound, I found these works vibrant and exciting.

The shocking opening of Concerto for Clarinet, Percussion, Birds and Computer, with breaking glass, power tools and dissonance, introduces a world where any sound operates as a musical gesture. Lock combines dance beats and chillout grooves with sudden changes in sound and feel, framing his interesting sonic combinations. I found a haunting clarinet solo followed by a driving, almost tribal dance well balanced and appealing.

The first two movements of Sonata for Cello and Mixing Desk exist in a slow ambient world with simple but wonderfully poignant cello lines. The final movement changes feel, using classical influenced R&B riffs that are set against electronica counterpoint.

From single note rhythmic patterns to an imitation of a Spanish guitar, Lock's Concerto for the Sound of the Harp and Other Sound has is a real focus on the harp's sound.

Combining stylophone and board game sounds - and jumping suddenly to a quirky flute sample - I found the work varied and convincing. The final movement has a simple Eastern feel where Lock's film experience comes through in an emotional and atmospheric ending.

While some listeners will be put off by the influences used in this collection, many used to hearing these commercial and dance genres will find Lock's work refreshing.

RÊVE: CD REVIEW - Freenoise
October 2007

Released to coincide with a full premiere concert at the home of the London Symphony Orchestra, St. Luke's, Brian Lock has launched on a terrific new avenue to his already rampant repertoire. An internationally renowned film and media composer and live electronics artist, Lock has gathered together an impressive ensemble of innovative musicians to realise a project which is startlingly original and certainly genre-defying.

Rêve is highly polished yet bursting with life, artistic risk and new culture. Sitting in total comfort with Lock's subtle dance-age electronica are the traditional sounds of European orchestral instruments; clarinet (Neyire Ashworth), cello (improv/mutli-artiste Zoe Martlew) and harp (avant garde and film music specialist Hugh Webb). The CD is made up of Concerto for Clarinet, Percussion, Birds and Computers (three movements), Sonata for Cello and Mixing Desk (four movements) and Concerto for the Sound of a Harp & Other Sounds (three movements).

A very positive 52 minutes, equally perfect for a relaxing dinner or working background as well as being spiritually stimulating on a close listening with your decent speakers or headphones, probably stunning live!