Description
Release Date Friday 7th November 2025
All pre-orders will be dispatched/made ready for collection on that day.
Owls, the inverted string quartet hailed as a “dream group” by The New York Times, and whose original, visceral, and personal performances defy categorization, announce their debut album, Rare Birds (out on March 14, 2025), via New Amsterdam Records. Owls’s all star lineup is comprised of world renowned soloists, as well as current and former members of yMusic, Aizuri Quartet, and Kronos Quartet: Alexi Kenney (violin), Ayane Kozasa (viola), Gabriel Cabezas (cello), and Paul Wiancko (cello). The album was produced by Grammy™-winner William Brittelle.
Rare Birds offers a new take on a seemingly familiar form, inverting the string quartet with two cellos instead of two violins, while incorporating a playful approach to repertoire curation. Existing as something between a live concert, a playlist, and an album of creative premieres, reinterpretations, and William Brittelle’s outside- the-box production, Rare Birds offers music imbued with creative energy in multiple directions. Vibrant double cellos build foundations for violin and viola to soar over, interwoven string parts flow through baroque harmonies, driving rhythms invite the listener to dance, and delicate textures transform into moments of rapturous joy. Owls’s unique instrumentation affords the ensemble the freedom to explore musical possibilities without the constraints of a traditional canon, resulting in an album that is as sonically distinctive as it is heartfelt.
TRACKLIST:
1. When The Night - Paul Wiancko
2. Ricercar - Trollstilt (Dan Trueman & Monica Mugan)
3. Rəqs (Dance) - Franghiz Ali-Zadeh
4. Les Barricades Mystérieuses - François Couperin
5. Vox Petra - Paul Wiancko
6. Good Medicine - Terry Riley
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for looking at our listing, below are a few points to consider before making a purchase:
- All records we sell are Brand New - pre-orders will normally come sealed but if you are purchasing in stock items, please note the copy may have been unsealed for display in the shop. Please email straight after purchase to enquire if this is of importance to you.
- Orders won't ship until all items are released, so keep this in mind when purchasing multiple pre-orders or a mix of in stock and pre-order items.
- The 'Product' page will show the most up to date info we have with regards to the item and its release date, but this information is subject to change so check in with us if you have any questions.
- We unfortunately don't offer tax/vat outside of the UK via the website so please keep in mind that when the items arrives in your country you may be liable to pay a further charge before delivery. (all UK orders the price you see is the price you will pay). Please also note that we are unable to adjust the declared value on items sold internationally.
Payment & Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.