You may think you know what one cello sounds like, but you can't possibly anticipate the rich textures you'll hear on Hologram Crackers, a wide-ranging, ear-opening collection of tunes for solo cello by Gideon Freudmann, a classically trained cellist wending his idiosyncratic, and humorous way through the musical landscape. All selections on this disc were recorded in one pass of the tape using digital delays and looping gear to create a dense, overdubbed sound, but without conventional multitracking. One of his 12 CDs, Hologram Crackers garnered Freudmann a much bigger audience after being featured on NPR's Weekend Edition. This collection of tunes shows the cellist digging deep into the electric cello and his seemingly endless imagination creating a world of sound from one instrument. Freudmann combines his classical training with electronics to create an instrumental electric cello album that is melodic, lush, spirited and definitely one of a kind. "Electric cello music. That says it all. At the same time, it tells you very little about how good this work is. Performed entirely by Freudmann on said instrument and using a relatively small number of basic effects, we have a disc of surprising depth and not-so-surprising beauty. The truly amazing part here is that most of this was recorded without using multi-tracking. It is very difficult to believe this was done that way given the depth of what you hear. He's like a one man quartet at times. Oh, and about the not-so-surprising beauty bit: the tones from a cello are amongst my personal favorites. Rich tones that are not lost with electrification. Freudmann has put together one of the most interesting and enjoyable neo-classical discs I've heard in some time." - RJN CDSpectrum.com ------------- "CelloBopper Gideon Freudmann has been showing the world that the classically conceived cello can have a modern sensibility. His latest platter advances that notion further with incredible futuristic solo electric cello compositions. By using digital delays and looping mechanisms, Freudmann layers parts upon parts for fat, dense sound done without the usual multi-track trickery. As plucked and strummed rhythms throb away in the background, melodies are piled on, then woven together until they fade out, only to emerge again. Listening to Freudmann's 17 creations is much like pondering about art, identifying objects in the clouds or even interpreting surreal dreams. Often there's a feeling of motion as if you're being transported to an unknown destination. You never get there because when you're close, another journey whisks you away in its motion. And who cares if you never arrive? The thrill is in the ride itself." - Dirty Linen Gideon Freudmann is a, talented, experimental cellist that got the ear of producers from NPR's All Thing's Considered. That program often uses his music. And there is much of it to use. Freudmann plays these unexpected compositions on electric cello with digital delays and looping equipment creating a dense accompaniment. There is a sense of humor, a spirit of eclectic adventure and mastery of classic and jazz forms in these pieces. This fusion of talent and experiment makes for a peerless and unforgettable collection of gems. - Perfect Sound Forever "Freudmann sounds like nothing less than a cutting-edge, avant-garde musician, whose genre-bending exploits combine aspects of performance art, new-classical, psychedelia and comedy, a sort of cross between Kronos Quartet and Leo Kottke." - Berkshire Eagle "His songs should find favor with fans of new age, jazz, classical and blues riffs. He is amazingly adept at creating sonic moods in the ethereal school. Evocative. Stirring. And simply put, a must-get for those who treasure the pleasure of certified tonal skill." - Soundations Music Reviews "By turns dark, moody, pensive playful, soothing and raucous, Hologram Crackers is a fascinating listening experience. It moves fluidly among the worlds of classical, jazz, pop and rock, and various fusions of all these." - Folk-Tales.com "His originals are great examples of a growing trend towards combining classical, jazz, folk and rock influences. It dissolves boundaries and infuses the music with a dream-like sense of possibility; the music might roam anywhere at any time. He has the hard-to-come-by, wide-ranging mastery necessary to pull off such a feat." - The Valley Advocate "Freudmann uses modern effects to create songs that run the gamut of styles and moods. Meaning, this is a superb blend of modern machines and time-tested musicality. Freudmann is one helluva composer and player. His songs should find favor with fans of new age, jazz, classical and progressive rock riffs. He is amazingly adept at creating sonic moods in the ethereal school. "Evocative. Stirring. And simply put, a must-get for those who treasure the pleasure of certified tonal skill. Gideon uses electronic effects tastefully on this mostly no over- dubbing CD. Solid instrumentalists are hard to find in the current crop of players, but Gideon Freudmann delivers the goods for art rock fans everywhere. "Excursion" is the best no-word track of the year!" Hologram Crackers is an album of solo cello music. But I guarantee you it's like no other cello music you've ever heard, unless you're one of the growing cadre of Freudmann fans. To say that Freudmann plays the cello is akin to saying that Jimi Hendrix played the guitar. Freudmann is pushing the boundaries of the instrument in a manner similar to the way Hendrix enlarged the guitar's vocabulary. Mostly, though, as with all innovators, Freudmann's music defies comparison. By turns dark, moody, pensive, playful, soothing and raucous, Hologram Crackers, Freudmann's seventh release, is a fascinating listening experience. It moves fluidly among the worlds of classical, jazz, pop and rock, and various fusions of all these. Freudmann has worked on several movie scores -- some of the pieces here, including "Haunted Merry-Go-Round" and "Cocoon," seem to draw on Carl Stalling's cartoon soundtrack work. Call it "Bugs Bunny noir."