Window
TPR, 2024
8/10
The 3rd album from the singer and composer Kari van der Kloot, the 10 songs here recruit Elsa Nilsson, Jamie Reynolds, Gary Wang and Nathan Ellman-Bell for the modern jazz listen.
The bright and playful “Outside” starts with van der Kloot’s warm scatting alongside Nilsson’s animated flute, and “Trust Exercise” follows with a mesmerizing repetition that uses cinematic synth to its advantage before shifting to Reynolds’ flowing keys.
Halfway through, “Tattoo” carries a sublime intimacy via the pretty singing and dreamy backdrop, while “Cost” places more emphasis on Ellman-Bell’s frisky drums amid the soaring flutes and poetic singing.
“Totem” and “Keeping Quiet” exit the listen, where the former is a bit busier and makes great use of Wang’s strategic bass, and the latter pairs the eloquent keys with flawless, colorful singing courtesy of van der Kloot’s inimitable delivery.
Van der Kloot resides in Brooklyn, and the sounds here touch on the varied indie-rock ideas from her city, and certainly are steeped in timeless jazz with plenty of precise layering and earthy sensibilities.
Travels well with: Sarah Jerrome- Magpie; Andrea Superstein- Oh Mother