Phillip Houghton's Three Duets. This suite is splendid and is splendidly played by the Strano sisters: I was able to borrow a score to follow and the duo really make the most of this one. The first movement, the Mantis and the Moon, is full of frenzy to begin and then subsequently becomes the insect's death scene. Attack and a sad crazy mystery seem to be called for and are provided. Lament, written for a composer friend who had recently died, asks on the score for the players to 'begin like firmly but gently pushing big doors open into a world of light'. I love the evocation of this request and i feel the guitarists got it well. 'Sparks of gold and threads of light coming out of the guitars' is what Houghton wants in the concluding Alchemy and the duo are spot on with some scintillating playing. Here is a really fascinating new piece; it's well worth getting the disc just for this alone in my view.

- Reviewer: Chris Kilvington, Classical Guitar Magazine, Jan. 1996. Review of 'Three duets' on Strano Sisters' CD