Axils
Neuma, 2025
10/10
The composer Peter Van Zandt Lane blurs genres with these chamber and electroacoustic selections that enlist many different players.
“Décalcomanie 2” starts the listen with Maggie Snyder’s viola in a haunting, solo setting that uses electronics via artistic and surreal avenues, and “Anabrunch” follows with the Splice Ensemble enlising unpredictable saxophone and chilling trumpet with strategic keys in unexpected and rhythmic waves.
“nodes.branches.loops” and “Composite & Parallax” land in the middle. The former assembles 4 saxophones in a sonically alluring fashion, while the latter is a colorful bout of saxophones and percussion that dance around each other with no lack of melodies and texturing.
Close to the end, “(p)neumes” is populated by Ensemble Vim, who blend the keys, flutes, percussion and cello into both meditative and intensifying positions, and “Coastal Portrait: Cycles And Thresholds” exits with strong attention to tonality and an enlightening demeanor thanks to the UGA Contemporary Chamber Ensemble's strings and the ambient electronics.
A very curious aligning of classical and experimental prowess, there’s a profound aspect to these often minimal arrangements that radiate much wonder and beauty.
Travels well with: Thomas Ciufo- The Rising Moon; Shannon Wettstein- Con Grazia- A Century Of Italian Piano Music