Vladimir Godár is a firm believer in ‘musical archaeology’, namely that music should build upon foundations previously laid down not only musically, but also religiously and culturally. As a consequence, his compositions take heavily from a number of earlier periods, including traditional Slovak and Baroque music. Godar does, however, maintain a modern approach to composing in many respects– there is a ghostly ambience among much of his music that’s often interrupted by moments of dissonance, creating a poignant edge. 2006’s release of Mater on ECM Records saw Godár being justifiably recognised outside of Eastern Europe.