Alexander Pott was, until earlier this year, assistant organist at Magdalen College, Oxford, and witnessed the birth of the new Eule organ first-hand.

Its debut recording reveals an instrument with a dark and colourful personality, in which outstanding tonal finishing all but overcomes a somewhat over-wrought concept (a mixture of actions, slightly odd borrowings and a case which overhangs the gallery on the antechapel side a none-too-elegant manner).

Pott’s programme is really clever, juxtaposing mid-to-late Romantic German and England music. The inclusion of Eric Fenby’s transcription of Delius’ On Hearing The First Cuckoo between excerpts from Karg-Elert’s Lake of Constance and Whitlock’s Four Extemporisations is particularly inspired. The use of Pott’s transcription of Warlock’s Folk-Song Preludes is a creative and idiomatic way to show off solo colours and the final single-moment sonata by early 20th-century Covent Garden singer Frederick Austin, dedicated to Whitlock, is an interesting and enjoyable discovery. The booklet and inlay feature Eule’s technical drawings of the organ and the presentation in general is excellent. Warmly recommended.