Setting excerpts from the epic poem ‘On Earth’ by Carolyn Forché, which transcribes one woman’s journey between life and death modeled on ancient Gnostic hymns in the form of an abecedary, this week the composers Rachel Grimes, Angélica Negrón, Shara Nova, Sarah Kirkland Snider, and Caroline Shaw introduce The Blue Hour on New Amsterdam and Nonesuch Records. The collaborative song cycle explores memories of childhood, warfare, love and loss and was commissioned and performed by the self-conducted Boston-based A Far Cry chamber orchestra, with Nova also featuring as vocal soloist.
Patrick Shiroishi and Marta Tiesenga issue a suite of improvised duets for soprano saxophone, their winnowing drones melding with the anxious reverb of an otherwise empty tunnel underneath the Jazz Cat hot pot restaurant in Monterey Park. Nicholas Krgovich’s bowl runneth over as he celebrates the sacred in the mundane, skewering the haute cuisine of Scaramouche and adult contemporary tropes alongside Joseph Shabason and a crew of Toronto players. Ken Field and Alieno de Bootes explore orbital paths, Panda Bear and Sonic Boom sample The Everly Brothers, and Jordan Reyes learns to embrace the void through Zen Buddhism and the dark night of the sole which is marathon running.
Bill Nace expands on the frayed loops and clipped motifs of Both by furnishing his guitar with the hurdy gurdy, doughnut pipe, quelle est belle, and taishōgoto. Herva completes the shift from sample-based music to the numbers and ratios of generative production. And the Danish synthesist and ambient composer Sofie Birch and Polish vocalist Antonina Nowacka come together as kindred spirits on a collection released by Mondoj and Unsound, which took shape at a synagogue in Kraków after drawing breath as part of an overnight improvised stint at the Ephemera Festival.
With the legendary guitarist Bill Frisell turning his usual trio of Jorge Roeder and Dave King into a quartet, Julian Lage navigates the tributaries of Americana and improvised jazz, while Swimful returns for his fifth release on SVBKVLT boasting remixes from Ikonika and Phelimuncasi. Roberta Piket, Harvie S, and Billy Mintz unwind at home, and Sarah Davachi interprets the fifteenth-century piece ‘Alas Departynge is Ground of Woo’ in the company of the mezzo-soprano Jessika Kenney and contralto Dorothy Berry. Tracks by Rosalía, DJ Tomu, Bruno Bavota, and Chantal Acda complete the latest roundup of new music.
Playlists: Spotify · Apple Music · YouTube
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Patrick Shiroishi & Marta Tiesenga – ‘open wide, o earth’
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Ken Field & Alieno de Bootes – ‘Hmmm’
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The Blue Hour – ‘No. 11, Firmament’
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Bruno Bavota & Chantal Acda – ‘Sirens’
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Sofie Birch & Antonina Nowacka – ‘Sudany’
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ROSALÍA – ‘DESPECHÁ’
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Panda Bear & Sonic Boom – ‘Danger’
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Sarah Davachi – ‘Alas, Departing’
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Roberta Piket, Harvie S, and Billy Mintz – ‘Pyramid’
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Tomu DJ – ‘Optimistic’ (feat. kimdollars1)
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