A wombat is a medium-sized Australian marsupial that has the brawniness of a bear, the face of a weasel, and the temper of an angry toddler. In other words, it’s a rarity that comes with a side of volatility. Not unlike its namesake, Wombat, an Iowa City-based free jazz trio, leans into unpredictability on their newest record, The order in which they exist. Visceral sound … Continue reading Album Review: Wombat, The order in which they exist
A steady pulse of swishing static provides an immersive backdrop for Ryuichi Sakamoto’s recent score for Luca Guadadgnino’s short drama, The Staggering Girl. The film, produced in partnership with Valentino’s creative director, tells a story of a woman haunted by her past. It mostly falls flat, save for a few moments of the type of enveloping dreamworlds Guadagnino is known for. Sakamoto’s score turns the … Continue reading Album Review: Ryuichi Sakamoto, The Staggering Girl OST
For composer, fiddler, and instrument builder Dan Trueman, tradition and innovation in music-making often coexist. He’s recently worked on projects that explore their meeting place, like bitKlavier, a digital prepared piano, and Olagón – A Cantata In Doublespeak, which amalgamates Irish folk tales, pop, contemporary classical, and fiddling. With his 2019 album, Songs That Are Hard to Sing, he continues in this vein, mixing inspiration … Continue reading Album Review: Dan Trueman, Sō Percussion, and JACK Quartet, Songs That Are Hard To Sing
“After Sandy” opens Fay Kueen’s debut album A Place Called Home Is Not A Place with whimsical nostalgia. A muted piano tingles like a distant memory as an electronic hiss swirls around it. Kueen’s voice is distant, enveloped in a quiet chaos. She croons, “To believe it never fade away/To pretend it never fall apart,” searching for tangibility and hunting for the truth within a … Continue reading Album Review: Fay Kueen, A Place Called Home Is Not A Place
Lost In, modern jazz ensemble SWART.’s 2018 debut album, is a collection of stories, both musical and personal. It showcases a wide sonic range, moving through big band-style jazz jams, introspective explorations, and wild, nearly pure-sound improvisations. Continue reading Album Review: SWART., Lost In
