A Present From A Small Distant World
Red Shift, 2021
9/10
Listen to A Present From A Small Distant World
The Toronto composer Alex Eddington makes quite an impression on this debut album, where he runs the gamut of moods with Kristin Mueller-Heaslip on vocals, Jennifer Tran holding down saxophone, Elaine Lau and Joseph Ferretti playing piano, and Daniel Ramjattan brings his guitar. Eddington also handles electronics, and it makes for a very experimental version of classical music.
The title track starts the record with text from Jimmy Carter as a vocally soaring and musically atmospheric setting is cultivated, and “Sonnet XVIII” follows with soothing singing that shows incredible range in its a cappella nature set to Shakespeare’s words.
Tran’s saxophone prowess is on display alongside the curious spoken word, well timed piano and highly diverse 20 minutes of “Time Will Erase”, while “Dennis Lee Songs” alternates between bouncy and playful and intimate and bare. “The Stolen Child”, one of the album’s best, then showcases agile keys from Lau that shifts moods constantly amid the strong vocal acrobatics that illustrates W.B. Yeats’ prose.
Approaching the end, “Scintillator” delivers an almost robotic like presence initially, before spotlighting the many facets of Mueller-Heaslip’s distinct soprano voice, and “Intersteller/To the Makers of Music” exits with sublime beauty and a dreamy quality that almost seems like a lullaby and benefits much from Ramjattan’s guitar.
Although this might be his first album, Eddington has a wealth of experience playing with many ensembles and holding residencies in his home country. On this very adventurous endeavor, he presents a collage of sounds, many emotions and plenty of inimitable skill that you won’t soon forget.
Travels well with: Tim Brady- Actions Speak Louder; Allen Ravenstine- Rue Du Poisson Noir