MW Ensemble Press
"Songs for cello, piano, and a train EP" (2011)
"Pressed on clear vinyl hidden inside an odd package of a paper cover together with the photocopied sheets, my post office has pressed this with force inside my mailbox, the record itself survived without being crumpled with the package. The EP contains 4 simple minimalist pieces of piano with cello, instrumentals that come over like a song mood in the head following several chords in the evolution of the tune, a bit like three parts of song intermezzos, taken out of a diary, a contemplative improvisation. The third part is stretched a bit with a small dramatic idea to a somewhat longer track. The last short part, “for a train” seems to be recorded somewhere where there’s lots of mechanical object movement, like a washing machine rolling on a wooden floor but without the engine’s noise. I assume it was added because it has its own rhythm, even though it has a lot of background noise which to a degree somewhat disturbs the experience. I was told that listening to the vinyl gave a very different experience compared to the CD or MP3 version, so I tried to check out the difference and it is immediately clear why. The clear vinyl shows certain patterns moving in a subtle way as if it is part of the records musical rhythm. And then the last part also gives much more sense as if the record playing itself comes to life with sound. The MW Ensemble is Nancy Wheeler on cello and Mike Winters on piano. Mastered by Michael Bond. Graphic design by both musicians." - Psychefolk.com
"MW Ensemble is a modern classical duo performing on piano and cello. Ionik Records has released their latest works on a clear 8” record which is really fantastic. The rest of the packaging I found a bit strange being a folder and some photocopied pages including what appears to be the sheet music for the recordings. The presentation may be a bit odd but the music is great. Mike Winters piano arrangements are gorgeous, cinematic in scope yet filled with a comforting melancholy. The cello has the right ideas yet the execution leaves something to be desired at times. Classical music doesn’t get the credit it deserves with so many listeners brushing off the genre as a whole. It’s great to see Ionik Records tackling the genre and giving them a killer 8” record. If you have brushed off classical take a moment to give it another chance." - R.A.D Vinyl
"Apartment or Nepal EP" (2008)
DJ President of the United States reviews "Apartment or Nepal" - HERE
Non dice più di tanto il mini album d’esordio di questo trio proveniente dal Kentucky. I MW Ensemble non devono avere grosse esperienze alle spalle in ambito musicale, e “Apartment Or Nepal” ne è un po’ la testimonianza, che li mette in luce così come sono, incerti, timidi e approssimativi. Il cantato - debole e fragile - si fa sentire a fatica, mentre le coordinate sonore sono prossime ad un indie-rock - dalle striature chamber - fin troppo saporifero, annacquato, senza alcun mordente, che in alcuni momenti può far pensare ai Dirty Three. Pregevoli le tonalità soffuse e insinuanti di “Nepal”, ma l’assolo di chitarra verso il finale, suonato in quella maniera, infastidisce solamente. Si faranno. (3/5) - Miuzik Reviews
"This short disk is long on beautiful, emotional sounds. A cross between chamber music, pop, and indie, these different elements of MW Ensemble come together for some pretty challenging and entertaining listing." - Ear Damage Reviews
"Progressive, MW Ensemble is the Kentucky-based trio consisting of Nancy Wheeler, Jeremy Edison, and Mike Winters. These three individuals play a brand of soft, subdued, progressive music with some pop leanings. These recordings are simple and sparse...allowing the listener to concentrate on the songs themselves rather than a bunch of technological tricks. Smooth, pensive, intriguing cuts include the first track (unnamed), "Apartment," and "Nepal." Peculiar stuff that comes off sounding extremely smooth." - Babysue Reviews
"The MW Ensemble, haling from Kentucky, play thoughtful Lounge music with a classical lilt." - Mondo Blue
"Apartment or Nepal is a stunning EP that packs the emotional wallop of a double album. Moody, droning chamber music with an indie bite, the five songs bristle with poignant yet strong melodies. If anything, the tunes suffer when the vocals kick in, not because they are bad but because they are unnecessary. The Kentucky trio featuring Nancy Wheeler, Jeremy Edison and Mike Winters slowly but poetically builds a world in sound. The untitled first track is gorgeous, heartbreaking drone that immediately recalls Dirty Three but also some of Kronos Quartet’s more introspective projects. The introduction of the vocals midway through disrupt the dreamscape created; this is a tune for the listeners to supply their own myths to the music. That process continues through the other three tracks, with closer "Nepal" not so much providing resolution as offering a doorway into further explorations. You want this to go on and on. As the title suggests, Apartment or Nepal (a limited edition, co-released with the Rhode Island label 75 or Less) is about spaces small and large, mundane and exotic, where wonders are waiting for the attentive. MW Ensemble effortlessly encourage deep listening, and this is a short but dense record that will keep you busy until the band's full-length drops." - Prefix Magazine