Black Lodge
Cantaloupe, 2023
9/10
The inimitable composer David T. Little brings us a modern opera, where both punk and metal ideas run alongside the mythological themes that are fleshed out by Timur and the Dime Museum and Isaura String Quartet, plus libretto thanks to Anne Waldman.
“Magic Pain” opens the listen with a dense, mysterious climate that’s heavy on atmosphere, which segues into the thick versus light qualities of “Electric Cerberus”, where an ominous but still pretty climate unfolds with soaring vocals.
Further on, the spoken word of “The Strange Light In The Lodge” brings a very eloquent part of the story via Waldman’s intriguing voice, while “Petrograd” buzzes with some sci-fi moments that showcases powerful, very expressive singing.
Close to the end, “Shaman On The Wheel” illustrates careful picking, strong attention to mood, poetic vocals and thundering bouts of metallic gestures, and “Coming At You Through Frames Of The Sleep” isn’t far after with its curious organ playing that complements the harmonic and dreamy voices.
An extremely innovative listen that somehow reminds us of System Of A Down and Mozart, Little’s vision is one of a dark, existential but pretty demeanor, and it’s a journey the listener won’t soon forget.
Travels well with: John Luther Adams- Sila: The Breath Of The World; Tom Nazziola- Distant Places