Night + Day
Starry Void, 2021
9/10
The quartet Opium Moon made quite an impression in 2019 with their debut album, which actually netted them a Grammy Award, and this follow up is certainly just as accomplished, as the Los Angeles artists create diverse, substantial and absorbing song craft.
“Opium Moon: Night” starts the listen with a low buzzing before meticulous santoor and precise drumming enter the complicated strings as a very cinematic landscape flows, and “Wisdom” follows with sublime violin guiding the very cautious, worldly climate.
Further into the listen, “When Their Wings” spend 9 minutes mesmerizing us with its playful string manipulation, reserved drumming and dreamy delivery, while “Messengers” flows with a calm, gorgeous display of orchestral, chamber and even New Age nods. “Opium Moon: Day” then places spoken word and soothing harmonies into a more forceful execution of firm drumming and dynamic violin playing.
Arriving near the end, “Feast Of Sevens” benefits from charming bass work amid the rhythmic and retro energy, and “100 Ways To Kiss The Ground” exits the listen weaving in and out of adventurous textures and fascinating interaction between the 4 as they all showcase their respective talents with awe.
An album that’s split into Night and Day portions, Opium Moon, i.e. Lili Haydn (violin, vocals), Itai Disraeli (bass), Hamid Saeidi (santoor), and M.B. Gordy (percussion) know their way around a rich and cultured endeavor, and it makes for a world music experience that you’re absolutely not going to forget.
Travels well with: Lowland Hum- At Home; Lanterna- Hidden Drives