Music for Airport Furniture is Cold Blue’s first release of Stephen Whittington’s refined, beautiful music. Whittington is something of a musical vagabond, traveling widely and writing music that is often multicultural in its inspiration. With this in mind, this compelling and sublime string quartet could be heard as a strange homage to the act of traveling, airport to airport.

Stephen Whittington writes about the piece, “Music for Airport Furniture is a work for string quartet that alludes to Erik Satie’s ‘furniture music.’ I was interested in the airport departure lounge as an arena for human emotions—boredom, apprehension, hope, despair, loneliness, the tenderness of farewells—all taking place within a bland, often desolate space.”

“Belying its Satie-esque title, this work unravels to reveal a music of sheer elegance and eloquence.” —Peter Garland

“Luxurious and comfortable. I could sit and listen to Music for Airport Furniture for hours.” —Richard Friedman, Music from Other Minds (KALW, San Francisco)