Benefits A CD of Anthony Powers' music, reviewed by BASIL RAMSEY Metier    MSV CD92038

As the best creative talent eventually finds opportunities for recording on the smaller and courageous labels, it only remains for us as (hopefully) fervent supporters of today's music to ensure that our enthusiasm matches what is required of stalwarts. Contemporary music, for all the high profile exposure, still counts for little in the estimation of average music lovers.

Anthony Powers is a composer well endowed with fruitful ideas, developing them by using language without compromise [listen -- track 8, 0:50-1:51]. So much composition today spins off into effects because technological advance opened a gigantic box of musical toys. The inevitable outcome is confusion, and a true composer's fixation on a suitable creative path is a trial of strength against innumerable temptations. Whilst there's a period of nearly twenty years in which these five works were composed, no major rift in development appears. Each movement presents itself as a voyage of discovery and the language becomes richer.

The ensemble Psappha plays with a requisite spirit of freshness, which points to technical assurance and involvement. Therefore another good composer has the benefit of a well produced CD.

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Record Box is Music & Vision's regular Wednesday series of shorter CD reviews