Tree Lines
New Focus, 2025
9/10
This first album from the septet Exceptet features the compositions of Sarah Goldfeather, Paul Kerekes and Katherine Balch, where a creative and distinct vision unfolds.
Goldfeather’s “Mouth Full Of Ears” opens with her violin and voice radiating in both minimal and prog-influenced moments that also welcomes animated drumming.
In the middle, “Figment”, by Kerekes, emits much playful percussion and a distinct dreaminess that’s sonically off kilter and highly imaginative and manipulates pitch with much playfulness.
The title finishes the listen, and has Balch using vocals like an instrument across 11 chapters that recruit muted trumpet, vibraphone, double bass, and no lack of attention to timbre, glitchy bouts and microtonality.
A precise and energetic effort, the selections mesh brass and winds with much intrigue and colorful songwriting that uses chamber and classical bits in atypical ways.
Travels well with: Edward Smaldone- What No One Else Sees…; Roberta Michel- Hush