Omegah
Adhyaropa, 2021
8/10
An extremely diverse and unclassifiable outfit spearheaded by Joe Brent, 9 Horses brings a small army of musicians and instruments to a post-everything formula that embraces acoustic and electric ideas across 8 atypical tunes.
The title track starts the listen with hypnotic guitar, as agile drumming and firm strings enter a very atypical climate that’s part rock focused, somewhat orchestral and weaves in and out of chamber sounds, and “S7rophe” follows with moody organ that flows into some subtle funk nods as graceful piano and well timed brass cultivate a calm, classically influenced setting.
At the halfway point, “The Grain Of The Wood Of The Frame” pairs emotive strings with proficient drumming as a cinematic quality enters playful jazz bouts, while “Max Richter’s Dreams” places dreamy vocals amid low strings with a sublime balance of beauty and tension.
Close to the end, the upbeat and louder “All The Beautiful Rockwood Kids” lands in melodic and diverse chamber rock territory, and “Let’s Just Make It Me And You” finishes the listen aglow in dynamic interplay as keys, strings, guitars, drums and electronics all swirl with precision and adventurousness.
Although their inception was more rooted in jazz, this sophomore album from 9 Horses highlights Sara Caswell’s top notch violin, Andrew Ryan’s incredible bass playing and Glenn Zaleski’s flawless piano, among many others, for a listening experience you won’t soon forget.
Travels well with: Ofer Pelz & Meitar Ensemble- Trinité; Boston Modern Orchestra Project- Walter Piston: Concerto For Orchestra