i love evil
Redshift, 2025
9/10
The soprano Dory Hayley brings much skill to this exceptional performance, where 5 selections by 5 Canadian performers makes for a stunning contemporary classical listen.
Disc 1 belongs to Morton Feldman’s “Three Voices”, as a trio of voices are layered with intrigue, wonder and mystery, where, across 67 minutes, the poem draws us in to its hypnotic quality as the last line emits the album title.
Jordan Nobles’ “XYZ” then radiates choral texture via the minimalist approach, while “Shadow/Light”, by Katerina Gimon, enlists live processing and field recordings for the 3 gripping segments.
Rodney Sharman’s “Scenes From Macbeth” arrives late, and offers a firm, opera fueled 4 chapters that utilize chromatic harmonies, body percussion and cinematic swells, and “How weird we must think the world is” exits with spoken word mixed with harmonics that employs contrasting voice manipulation with a gentle backdrop of reflection.
Dorley’s position as one of the leaders in Canada’s contemporary and experimental scene is further solidified here thanks to a stunning performance that highlights the creative vision of the composers with unparalleled attention to detail.
Travels well with: Valley Voice- Stars, Engines; Nick Storring- Mirante