To quote Harold Wilson, ''a year is a long time in politics''. In music, on the other hand, a decade seems to pass like the blinking of an eye. This thought is prompted by the realization that when Chandos first released this recording they were effectively introducing Robin Holloway's music to the record-buying public. Ten years on, nothing has changed: Chandos are again demonstrating considerable faith by issuing the first CD to be devoted entirely to Holloway's music. He remains dolefully under-represented in the catalogues, despite a healthy following among devotees of contemporary British music, though I see his Second Concerto for Orchestra (NMC, 5/94) has made it to the second round of this year's Gramophone Awards (see page 18).
If an introduction is required I can think of few more suitable works than these. Sea Surface Full of Clouds, dating from 1974-5, is an opulent choral work, beautifully re-creating the ''perpetual variation within the unchanging order of events'' of Wallace Stevens's clever and picturesque poem by means of, as Holloway himself puts it, ''perpetual variation of colour and texture rather than traditional harmonic and melodic means''. It is splendidly captured in this gloriously full-blooded and intensely committed performance from Hickox and his highly accomplished team of musicians. The digital recording may seem a trifle hard-edged but every detail of the music is portrayed with stunning clarity.
The Romanza is an even more attractive work, vividly highlighting Holloway's characteristic blending of the acerbic with the lyrical and displaying an intuitive ear for orchestral colour. Eric Gruenberg's performance has great distinction and again Hickox directs a most sensitive and compelling account. To quote AW writing over a decade ago ''this [is] an issue not to be missed''.'