Nick Martin composer press

Nick Martin composer press coverage includes reviews in The Guardian, The Strad, Seismograf, Louder Than War and Higher Plain Music. Furthermore, his album Terroir on Bella Union received five stars from KLASSISK magazine and widespread critical acclaim. Moreover, broadcasts on BBC Radio 3, Danish Radio P2, Deutschlandradio Kultur and ABC Classic have brought Nick Martin composer press attention from international audiences. Therefore, his profile continues to grow across the contemporary classical music world. In addition, the 2023 Pelle Prize brought significant recognition within the Danish music scene.

Nick Martin composer press — selected reviews

Writing in The Guardian, Andrew Clements described Falling as having “its simple musical idea beautifully worked out in Gavin Bryars-like harmonies.” Paul Morley, also in The Guardian, called his music “deliciously sparse and exquisitely controlled.” Furthermore, David Kettle wrote in The Strad that Queer Tears was “played with enormous sensitivity and also strong definition.” Moreover, Sune Anderberg called one work “simply a little gem” in Seismograf. Consequently, Nick Martin composer press reception has been strong across both specialist and mainstream publications.

Albums and recordings

Terroir, released on Bella Union, drew praise from Simon Smith at Higher Plain Music, who described it as “a stunning album.” Andrew Mellor wrote in Seismograf that it “proves an engrossing listen.” Additionally, Rhys Delany called it “almost intoxicating in its elegance” in Louder Than War. Browse the complete works catalogue for full details of all works. For press enquiries and high resolution images, visit the contact page.

Nick Martin composer press — reviews from The Guardian, The Strad and Seismograf

Press kit

‭ ★★★★★

— KLASSISK, nr. 68
Blue Luminaire: Terroir — “Når verden falder”
— April 2023

Played back to back, the meditations by Nick Martin and Alex Mills might induce a blissed-out half-hour.

– Peter Quantrill, The Strad

From the two movements of “Vocalise,” composed by Nick Martin, emerge the emotional centerpiece of the album, their intricate construction soaring into a breathtaking romantic sweep before a long denouement so gentle it’s nearly inaudible

– Graham Latham, A Closer Listen

The album is almost intoxicating in its elegance.

– Rhys Delany, Louder than war

‘Falling by the Denmark based Nick Martin, its simple musical idea beautifully worked out in Gavin Bryars-like harmonies’

– Andrew Clements, The Guardian

‘There are some sonic marvels here: UK-born, Copenhagen-based composer Nick Martin transforms The Firebirds’ dark, throbbing improvisation Low into the delicate, deeply emotional Queer Tears, played with enormous sensitivity and also strong definition by the Nordic musicians’

– David Kettle, The Strad

‘It is simply a little gem’

– Sune Anderberg, Seismograf

‘deliciously sparse and exquisitely controlled…it’s also something that I can imagine being played on my dream radio show alongside The Field, Xenakis, Thee Silver Mt Zion, Jon Hopkins, Morton Feldman, Murcof and Matmos. It’s contemporary music that can be of interest as much to Sigur Ros and Can fans as to lovers of Birtwistle and Cage.’

– Paul Morley, The Guardian

‘Terroirs breathes steadily in and out, aching with every exhalation. It demands a pound of emotional flesh from listeners: neither the subject matter nor the intimate nature of the recording allow for purely objective listening. Sometimes it’s all too close to sounding entirely worn out. But over time, Terroir sure proves an engrossing listen’

– Andrew Mellor, Seismograf

‘Bittersweet in a way but with intimate elegance in a way that makes every note strike your core. Terroir is a stunning album. Blue Luminaire feels like they have poured all their fears, desires and tentative yearnings into an album that longs for solace. Musically, the exotic chamber setting gives you a melodic comfort blanket to hide in. Lyrically and sonically, each phrase will cause quiet devastation.

– Simon Smith, Higher Plain Music