Imagine
Neuma, 2021
8/10
A highly creative artist from Slovakia who has lived in Denmark, Virginia and now Miami, Juraj Kojs brings contemporary, traditional and experimental ideas to this precisely executed listen that welcomes several performers to his electronics and spoken word.
The three part listen starts with “Face Forward, Hawaii”, where Eric Umble’s soothing clarinet, Adam Marks’ adventurous piano and Kojs’ mesmerizing electronics unfold across experimental moments, the sounds of rain, percussive sounds, and cinematic exploration. With song titles like “Roosters”, “Rainforest Birds” and “Lava Rocks In Your Palms”, the references to the ecology of Hawaii won’t go unnoticed.
The middle track, “Under The Blanket Of Your Lullabies”, starts out like the exact opposite of what you’d expect, where dense, screeching ominous sounds emanate from Megan Arns’ percussion, Zach Sheets’ flute, Clara Kim’s violin and Wei-Han Wu’s piano. Further on, the setting turns bare with sparse percussion as much attention to atmosphere is present on “V”, while the playful, upbeat “VI” pairs flute with frisky keys. At the end of this portion, “IX” brings voices into a minimal but effective display of meticulous instrumentation.
The final track, “Where You Are”, unfolds at just under 15 minutes, and recruits spoken word, chamber, orchestral and theatrical nods in a way that seems like you’re almost listening to a play, where oboe, bass clarinet, alto sax and bassoon interact in exciting, unpredictable ways.
A listen that’s not short on imagery, both postmodern and postclassical influences are in attendance, and Kojs and his esteemed company pay much attention to pitch, time signature and timbral manipulation in the imaginative vision.
Travels well with: Pamela Z- A Secret Code; Agnese Toniutti- Subtle Matters