Stephanie Lamprea Filters Poetry Through Bold Vocal Interpretation on ‘Quaking Aspen’
On her debut solo album Quaking Aspen, Colombian-American soprano Stephanie Lamprea makes a bold artistic statement that’s exciting and innovative.
classical
Christopher Otto and JACK Quartet Imbue Music with Mathematics on ‘rag’sma’
Christopher Otto and experimental string ensemble JACK Quartet apply the concept of “just intonation” to create a stirring, intense triple string quartet.
The Near-Death Inspiration Behind Yann Tiersen’s Life-Affirming New Work
“It’s really simple,” Yann Tiersen explains. “There is no inspiration out of [the location], there is no deeper meaning than to just juxtapose music and places.”
Yann Tiersen’s ‘Kerber’ Is a Sonic Tribute to His Home of Ushant
Yann Tiersen integrates synth elements, redefining his piano arrangements and giving each piece otherworldly layers on Kerber.
Bruno Bavota Finds Calm in a Crazy World with ‘For Apartments: Songs & Loops’
Italian composer Bruno Bavota’s pandemic-related fear and anxiety morph into bursts of creativity on his terrific new album For Apartments: Songs & Loops.
Portico Quartet Explore Every Inch of the Long-form on ‘Terrain’
Portico Quartet’s Terrain is where grand ambitions and warm sounds meet at an opportune intersection where texture ultimately overrules genre.
MONO Bring the Heaviness on Stunning Live Set ‘Beyond the Past’
A live album commemorating the 20th anniversary of Japanese post-rock’s MONO shows this deservedly acclaimed band at the height of their powers.
Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders Create Experimental Electrojazz on ‘Promises’
Sparseness aside, there is an explosive energy lurking just under the surface of Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders’ Promises.
Pharoah Sanders and Floating Points Find Solace in Open Space on ‘Promises’
Perhaps it’s reverence for the power of the expansive that makes Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders such a dynamic combination on Promises, their breathtaking collaboration.
Smerz’s ‘Believers’ Is a Wild, Uneven Ride Through Trance, Hip-Hop, and Classical
Lyrically and sonically, Smerz’s Believer is a bold, risk-taking LP that charts a wild, uneven ride through trance, classical, R&B, and hip-hop.
Norwegian composer Kaada Wows with Muted Takes on Classical Canon
From Satie to Mendelssohn to Edvard Grieg, Kaada’s electro-acoustic versions are illuminating on Misinterpretations.