"Eloquently played ... bathed in tonal colour and spiritual contemplation ... introverted to the point of stasis ... the effect is pulsatingly hypnotic ... serene and inward yearning ... a gentle celebration of returning simplicity"
- Limelight
"An abundance of listening rewards... Hushed passages appear where single notes linger and pauses abound... an appealing suspended quality... Schubertian, with a kindred lyricism... a simpatico connection between performer and composer, with the former sensitively rendering the latter's always intriguing material"
- Textura
"An intimate and emotional encounter ... musically intriguing ... a lullaby not for the faint hearted ... illustrated by Shamray with intense passion and introspection ... an extremely high level of pianism"
- Loud Mouth
Following his recordings of Russian masterpieces for Naxos and ABC Classics, Konstantin Shamray presents this intimate portrait of Port Adelaide composer Luke Altmann with a selection of twelve intriguing pieces.
Notwithstanding flashes of virtuosity and humour, and moments of gravitas, Idle Hands inhabits a hushed world of stillness and wonder; familiar, but scattered with disquiet.
Idle Hands spans 20 years of Luke’s career, and was supported by the Sidney Myer Fund and the Australian Cultural Fund.