Gift Songs – Jefre Cantu-Ledesma
Shakers came to America 250 years ago and instruments (female acolytes) of the religion would create “gift drawings” based on reported visions of the spirit realm–gifts from God. Cantu-Ledesma’s anticipated release comes from a similar place, in that the artist believes music is a gift, but also the influence of practicing as a Zen priest and a hospice worker.
Banshee / Basse Brevis – François J. Bonnet / Sarah Davachi
This isn’t a collaboration but a combined release by Portraits GRM. Banshee is composed from materials collected on the Isles of Mull, Staffa and Skye, Inner Hebrides, and feels like you are traveling to and from, and to and fro, these seaside locations. It’s orchestral, and evokes the natural and foreign simultaneously.
The Reverent Sky – Steve Roach
It’s not the sheer volume of Steve Roach’s output that amazes me, it’s that all that output is always of such a high quality.
Siamo tutti in pericolo – Golem Mecanique
Drones layered with chants give this Golem Mecanique release a liturgical feel.