Balance
New Amsterdam, 2006
9/10
The Berlin artist Claire Dickson penned these 7 songs over 3 years, where they bloomed via daily encounters with her improvising practice.
The title track opens with Zoh Amba’s adventurous tenor sax amid the stop and start dynamics of the elegant blend of organic and synthetic, and “Doors” follows with Lesley Mok’s drums and Lex Korten’s piano adding to the chilling and artistic delivery that’s sophisticated.
“Waterfeel” and “Stair” occupy the middle spots. The former benefits from Maya Keren’s mesmerizing keys amid Dickson’s breathy voice, while the latter recruits Kitba’s meticulous harp that adds much intrigue to the busier dynamics.
Arriving late, “Hurt Me” allows for Jon Starks’ strategic drumming to complement the rich and beat driven album highlight, and “Eyelid” exits with Cleek Schrey’s violin that complements the expressive singing and colorful ambience.
Even though Dickson made this record in a multi-phase process, it flows together seamlessly, where microphones, synth, field recordings and acoustic instruments make for an unpredictable, exciting and really unique experience.
Travels well with: Zeelie Brown- the apocalypse is not the end but the unveiling; Daniel Wohl- Artificial