Only the first one of these has the cello prominent and out front, and it's not rock, but here's my quick and dirty cello dump anyway. Use it or not, however you like
Music For A Glass Bead Game, Bach, Zoltan Kodaly, et al., performed by Arturo Delmoni on violin and Nathaniel Rosen on cello, John Marks Records, 1997. This one is a real "can't miss" album for violin and cello lovers and the recording is truly audiophile. Read more at
http://www.jmrcds.com/GlassBead.htm. I saw these two at one of the Stereophile shows and we were sitting just a few feet away. Totally mesmerizing. You could feel the bows moving across the strings and the air was charged with beautiful music. Best sound I heard at that show, by a wide margin. My friend picked up one of their CDs on the John Marks label at the show and I later got this one. They both are really amazing recordings.
Lots of cello being used nowadays in some of the pop stuff I listen to. Also, if you like the Dead Can Dance sound, give a listen to the Vas album, In The Garden of Souls, on the Narada label. Well known cellist Cameron Stone is featured on some of the songs and adds a very nice dimension to this middle eastern sounding music. Great recording.
Robert Rich has a great one called Seven Veils. This is a 1998 instrumental release on the Hearts of Space label that I have seen described as "ancient music from another planet" which may not be far off. A blend of Middle Eastern percussion and constanly changing ambient atmospheres textured with his lap steel guitar and bamboo flute along with Hans Christian on cello, and others on violin, bass and occasional searing electric guitar. A very high level of melodic and rhythmic sophistication on this album will keep you exploring it for a long time. Very soothing and captivating at the same time. And incredible sound quality.
Also, the feminine half of Laika, Margaret Fiedler, is a very good cellist and has played on many recordings. I know she supported PJ Harvey sometimes on tour too, playing guitar and cello (some of the early PJ songs were heavy on cello). I don't think any of the Laika songs have a cello in the mix but she does play a lot of other instruments.
The latest from the Mountain Goats, The Sunset Tree, has some nice cello work and string arrangements by well known Erik Friedlander.
Ditto on Lali Puna, Faking The Books, with electronics balanced by guitar and, in some songs, cello and violin like on the Notwist Neon Golden album
And one of my favorites along the same line as that Notwist album is Hood's Closer. I like that one song called "They Removed All Trace That Anything Had Ever Happened Here" which begins with a swarm of skittering clicks mixed over a solid drum foundation, and gets towed along by a mournful cello and jangly guitars with vocals split between Chris Hood and a loop by Dose-One.
And Rachel's is a real avante-garde chamber orchestra with viola, piano, cello and guitar. Check out Selenography for a good taste.
