Ilta
Neuma, 2022
8/10
The flutist Stefanie Abderhalden and percussionist Kyle Flens illuminate the work of David Maki, Robert Fleisher, Iannis Xenakis, and Robert Honstein with their solo and duo presence that embraces live performances, studio recordings and electroacoustic works on this very unique listen.
Maki’s “Ilta” starts the listen with atmospheric alto flute, flute and tuned gongs from Abderhalden alongside Flens’ well timed glockenspiel, copper pipes and vibraphone in the very warm and adventurous climate, and “Inertia”, also by Maki, follows with Malika Green’s steelpan and Katie (Wiegman) Burdett’s marimba performed live with both bare moments and bright, swift instrumentation.
Elsewhere, “Rebonds A”, by Xenakis, thumps with Flens’ 2 bongos, 3 tom-toms and 2 bass drums in the very precise solo piece, while Honstein’s “Chorale From An Economy Of Means” presents prepared vibraphone from Flens for a stirring, reflective album highlight.
Fleisher’s “Five Pieces For Flute And Percussion” exits the listen, and it comes with many percussive instruments that also recruits flute and piccolo for movements that can be gentle, dreamy and quite animated.
A listen that varies much from track to track, Abderhalden and Flens bring a wealth of talent to a winds and percussion focused affair that no one else could replicate.
Travels well with: Juraj Kojs- Orchid Music; Alex Lubet- Songs In Time Of Plague