'Wry, understated and slightly bonkers’ (Guardian)
‘An atavistic soul and a composer of amiable eccentricity’ (Daily Telegraph)
Colin Riley ‘doffs his cap to the contemporary classical genre but also manages to stand alone in that genre as a unique indie voice’ (BBC Radio). His music draws on a range of elements including new technologies, improvisation, song-writing and large-scale classical form. His recent albums include Shenanigans (NMC) and In Place (Squeaky Kate). Other works include Warp and Weft a concerto for 2 cellos (Gabriella Swallow / Guy Johnston), Rock Paper Scissors (Ensemble Bash), Stream-Shine (Philippa Mo) and Earth Voices (Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra, Sweden). Hearing Places, his large-scale multi-media piece was premiered earlier this year by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales to excellent reviews. The Daily Telegraphy described it as ‘Witty, inventive music of ear-tickling inventiveness’. Colin is developing a multi-media project Ludic Inventions for piano and live visuals, a new string quartet for the RIOT Ensemble harnessing AI and the song of the blackbird, as well as a new album for Melanie Pappenheim. He has also just finished the music for a new film by Michael Rosen. He is Reader in Composition at Brunel University, runs his own label Squeaky Kate and writes a regular blog about composing called Riley Notes