Nights Transfigured
Six String Sound, 2020
8/10
The second album of the New Lullaby Project from the Boston resident and guitar wizard Aaron Larget-Caplan, Nights Transfigured offers us lullabies in a variety of musical languages, including tonal, minimalist, 12-tone, North Indian and much more.
“Lullaby For D—-”, by Garrett Ian Shatzer, starts the listen with an indeed cozy, warm spirit as the sublime finger acrobatics mesmerize the listener, and “Perseiden” follows with a gorgeous display of restraint as the bare climate is nothing short of stirring.
Further on, “Lullaby In Three Voices” displays precise, intricate playing in a poetic setting, while David McMullin’s “Sleeping Light, Spinning World” flows with an undeniable allure as complicated chord progressions impress. “A World Of Your Own”, one of the album’s best, then showcases sparse moments alongside more firm picking, as Larget-Caplan’s diversity is present in spades.
Near to the end, “Esperanza”, a Stephanie Ann Boyd composition, embraces both minimal beauty and fuller bouts of tension, and “The Pillow That You Dream On” exits the listen with an intimacy that channels hope and peace in its divine execution.
All the works here are commissioned pieces, and Larget-Caplan brings his estimable vision to the lullaby and redefines it in his own classically influenced and technically fascinating approach. The third installment of this series is due out right about now, and it will be a treat to see what he has in store for us this time.
Travels well with: Reza Khan- Imaginary Road; Dave Stryker- Baker’s Circle