Tom Cora - Live at the Western Front

All Music Guide

The late Tom Cora produced far too few solo albums in his lifetime. This live recording and the stunning Gumption in Limbo are among the few documents of his astonishing musicianship as a solo cello performer. Involved extensively in avant-garde and improvised music, his solo work is outstanding for its lyrical and melodic qualities that touch on folk, classical and avant-garde, not to mention that on stage he could create a deeply personal music that is beyond genre and into realms of pure beauty. This album is an extraordinary documentation of such events captured live in 1997. His work with Roof, the Ex, and as member of Skeleton Crew with Fred Frith give hints as to where his elating and often bracing music bloomed -- alone on stage. Tom Cora plays solo cello throughout, and on "Halleluhjah Anyway" he also sings a beautiful folk melody. This is one of those records that is hard to exhaust -- every listen it reveals something new.

- Martin Walters, All Music Guide