Category Archives: Modern Composition
Eighth Blackbird ~ Hand Eye
When an ensemble has won a quartet of Grammies, some begin to wonder: has the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences gotten it right? It’s a fair question, considering the oddities that have piled up over the years (for
Eighth Blackbird ~ Hand Eye
When an ensemble has won a quartet of Grammies, some begin to wonder: has the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences gotten it right? It’s a fair question, considering the oddities that have piled up over the years (for
Colin Stetson ~ Sorrow: a reimagining of Gorecki’s 3rd Symphony
Where were you in 1992? Many of our readers weren’t born yet. But older readers will remember the strange surge of Polish composer Henryk Górecki as his third symphony topped the classical charts, sold a million copies and crashed into the
Colin Stetson ~ Sorrow: a reimagining of Gorecki’s 3rd Symphony
Where were you in 1992? Many of our readers weren’t born yet. But older readers will remember the strange surge of Polish composer Henryk Górecki as his third symphony topped the classical charts, sold a million copies and crashed into the
Luke Howard ~ Two Places
Two & One was one of my favourite 2014 releases, with Luke Howard largely eschewing the warm orchestration of Sun, Cloud to invite us on a more sombre, wholly captivating journey. Enticingly, the Melbourne-based pianist has moved onward further in
Luke Howard ~ Two Places
Two & One was one of my favourite 2014 releases, with Luke Howard largely eschewing the warm orchestration of Sun, Cloud to invite us on a more sombre, wholly captivating journey. Enticingly, the Melbourne-based pianist has moved onward further in
Antonymes ~ (For Now We See) Through A Glass Dimly
The music of Antonymes (Ian M. Hazeldine) has always reverberated with an inherent sadness, graced by a tinge of holiness. On his newest effort, this yearning tone is reflected by the title, a reference to the 13th Chapter of Corinthians: for
Antonymes ~ (For Now We See) Through A Glass Dimly
The music of Antonymes (Ian M. Hazeldine) has always reverberated with an inherent sadness, graced by a tinge of holiness. On his newest effort, this yearning tone is reflected by the title, a reference to the 13th Chapter of Corinthians: for
Sontag Shogun ~ “Tale” Remixed/2015, NYC
As Brooklyn’s Sontag Shogun prepares for the release of a new album later next year, they continue to re-visit older recordings and experiment with templates for the new. On “Tale” Remixed, they invite some friends to re-interpret their work; on the 2015, NYC cassette, they
Sontag Shogun ~ “Tale” Remixed/2015, NYC
As Brooklyn’s Sontag Shogun prepares for the release of a new album later next year, they continue to re-visit older recordings and experiment with templates for the new. On “Tale” Remixed, they invite some friends to re-interpret their work; on the 2015, NYC cassette, they
Jean-Michel Blais ~ II
Just ignore the fact that this bright, endearing set has been named II; it’s the debut album by Montreal-based composer-pianist Jean-Michel Blais. With so many piano albums being released as of late, this one comes as a breath of fresh air. Multiple tempos
Jean-Michel Blais ~ II
Just ignore the fact that this bright, endearing set has been named II; it’s the debut album by Montreal-based composer-pianist Jean-Michel Blais. With so many piano albums being released as of late, this one comes as a breath of fresh air. Multiple tempos
International Contemporary Ensemble ~ On the Nature of Thingness
There is a certain ambient quality to On the Nature of Thingness. Like the name, derived from one of the pieces within, states, the whole can be interpreted as an aural reflection on what constitutes a thing, and the sounds
International Contemporary Ensemble ~ On the Nature of Thingness
There is a certain ambient quality to On the Nature of Thingness. Like the name, derived from one of the pieces within, states, the whole can be interpreted as an aural reflection on what constitutes a thing, and the sounds
glacis ~ love, if you love me, lie beside me now
Happy Piano Day! And what better way to celebrate than with a new piano EP? This tiny treasure comes courtesy of Euan Alexander Millar-McMeeken (glacis), and it’s his fourth in a row. For 22 1/2 minutes, the composer weaves a web
glacis ~ love, if you love me, lie beside me now
Happy Piano Day! And what better way to celebrate than with a new piano EP? This tiny treasure comes courtesy of Euan Alexander Millar-McMeeken (glacis), and it’s his fourth in a row. For 22 1/2 minutes, the composer weaves a web
a closer listen 