Seamus, Vol. 34
New Focus, 2025
9/10
The always impressive electronic music advocacy organization, SEAMUS, returns with 9 new selections from the 2024 SEAMUS National Conference.
Patrick Reed’s “Primor D’Aion” opens with the waves of electronics emitting grace and adventurousness, and “Jour”, by Leah Reid, places electronics alongside Kyle Hutchins’ flowing soprano sax for a very frisky delivery.
In the middle, Kerem Ergener’s “In Praise Of Shadows” combines Lea Baumert’ flute, Chase Gillett’s percussion and Aaron Gonzales’ violin via the mysterious and cinematic gestures, while “Images” unfolds across 2 chapters that pair Jack Thorpe’s alto sax with Liann J. Kang’s electronics in a blurry, sci-fi sort of way.
Arriving close to the end, Oliver Harlan’s glitchy electronics make for a very atypical moment thanks to “Xerox In”, and Aleu Botelho and Paul J. Botelho both lend their voices and electronics for the harmonic, breathy and abstract finish of “the rain washed away the fear”
An effort where each track carries its own unique identity, the sounds range from haunting to rhythmic and meditative to dramatic, as the SEAMUS series continues to captivate with its sonic intrigue.
Travels well with: Richard Festinger- Then And Now: Chamber Music Of Richard Festinger; The ECCE Ensemble- Remembrances- Chamber Music Of Trevor Weston