review of FUNG SHA NOON CD (2009) on Tzadik:
David Simons and the Transformation of Sound Worlds
february 17, 2010

"Composer David Simons disregards the borders between modern concert music and DIY ethnic music and he does it with a flair.
This second album for Tzadik, Fung Sha Noon, shows this tendency admirably.
Essentially there are four contrasting pieces on the program.

"Odentity" takes Harry Partch's instruments and composes something new for them. Not surprisingly, the ghost of Partch hovers over the proceedings and the sound of the music reflects this. It is quite fascinating to hear this Partch/not Partch music and it shows you that Partch's ensemble of instruments has plenty of life left in it for those who feel the inspiration.

"Uncle Venus" follows with a strings plus gamelan lineup and an attractive ambiance that makes as much use of the space between sounds as the sounds themselves. The two part "Music for Theremin and Gamelan" takes the timeless qualities of gamelan music and stretches them, modernizes them to suit Simons' concept. The theremin gives the ensemble an eerie lead voice and the violin-viola soundblock effectively provides a third color for the ensemble. It's all an indication of how Simons has internalized musical traditions and made them over to the music in his head.

For the finale, David Simons performs a solo piece for an array of percussion instruments, including the found objects of everyday life: cans, bottles and such.

This may not become a barn-storming blockbuster out there in musical-commerce-land. What it is is rather remarkable and thoroughly captivating.
There's nothing of the tentative experiment in all this. This is fully formed David Simons music."

-Grego Applegate Edwards
Gapplegate Music Review

"A live soundscape by David Simons, the music and sonic potency that accompanies Hong along this journey,
adds an elevated sense of place, an ascendance to a higher plane where sound is minimal but achieves maximum ethereal impact."
....Larry Litt, NY Theater WIRE 11/22/08

"The first section is a textural exchange between performer and musician - David Simons artfully composes a live score with strange percussion instruments, some of which he made - such as what sounds like some 19th century Japanese instrument - but actually it's just a piece of styrofoam with rubber bands stretched across it, played with subtlety and ear - one for recycling...very 21st century. Other sounds are produced out of a large array of unexpected instruments by which he creates an Asian-inspired musical atmosphere that weaves right along with the movements of the performer. The coordination between the two is utterly remarkable and fascinating to watch."
...Elodie Lauten, Sequenza 21

"The feeling of well-being is enhanced by the exquisite rustlings of an ethereal percussion score played live by its composer, David Simons."
....Jack Anderson, NY Theater WIRE 11/29/08
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latest known review (of Tzadik CD Prismatic Hearing) :
"Este es un disco sensacional... por mamila que suene la palabra, de verdad. Tiene una atmosfera tan tetrica y a la vez atractiva, tan interesante que no puedes dejar de escucharlo. Las composiciones de este se–or rebasan el l’mite de la sensaci—n de sentarse a escuchar un disco. Aqu’ te sientas a encarnarte en el bizarro mundo que te traza como un cuadro de cubismo (lo digo inspirado en algunos de sus tracks titulados Picasso, ni mas ni menos jo jo) y a volarte la cabeza antes de que termine. Insisto, un cabron disco sensacional de obligatoria escucha."

This is a sensational disc . . . by mamila that sounds the word, really. It has a so tŽtrica [dismal?] and simultaneously attractive atmosphere, so interesting that you cannot stop listening to it. The compositions of this gentleman exceed the limit of the sensation to sit down to listen to a disc. Here you feel to encarnarte [embodied] in the gallant world that it draws up to you as a picture of cubism I say ( some of his tracks are inspired by Picasso titleholders, neither the more nor the less jo jo) and to volarte the head ["blow your mind"] before it finishes. I insist, a sensational cabr—n [bastard] disc of obligatory listening.
RYM . . . http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/david_simons/prismatic_hearing/
online, april 19, 2007

for solo performance at NY Theremin Society:

"David Simons is the white wizard of theremin midi triggering. One simply cannot tell how on earth he does it.
With Qi Gong like choreography he generates the most amazing sound and music landscapes that entrance the listeners
and take them on sonic journeys that are beyond words".
Theremin World posting of 4/8/06 concert at Issue Project Room, Brooklyn