Cycles
Neuma, 2025
9/10
A Texas pair consisting of Rachel Woolf on flute and Makana Jimbu on marimba, as Duo Aya they treat us to 4 commissioned works by close collaborators of the duo, as well as 3 beloved classics.
Ney Rosauro’s “Reunion Dance” starts the listen with the playful marimba and colorful flute interacting with much melody and playfulness, and “Cycles”, by Evan Williams, follows with a cautious spirit that builds into an upbeat and animated delivery.
Gareth Farr’s “Kembang Suling” lands in the middle, and across 3 segments it radiates a swirling demeanor but can also retreat to minimalism, while “Wildflowers”, by Paul Millette, illustrates dreamy flute prowess and frisky mallet work.
“Wood Wide Web II” and “Water Planet” exit the listen. The former, by Miriama Young, is strong on ambience, before finding soft and emotive places to resides, and the latter finishes with a cinematic, nearly sci-fi appeal via the Fumihiro Ono tune.
A rich listening experience that uses extended techniques and detailed attention to sound, there’s a lot of personal stories and cultural significance present in these artistic songs.
Travels well with: Coalescent Quartet- The Wall Between Us (Is Where We Meet); Galan Trio- Embrace