The Year The Earth Stood Still
Self-Released, 2021
8/10
Listen to The Year The Earth Stood Still
Not only is the North Carolina artist Ari Lehtela an extremely talented guitarist, he also makes guitars and other instruments, many of which are used on this very topical listen that welcomes Tom Harling on saxophones and Dave Bullard handling drums for the instrumental and improvisational affair.
“Prologue” starts the listen with a collage of stringed instruments meeting at a very exploratory place that touches on jazz, and “Sight Distance” follows with an intimate and mysterious display of harp and brushed percussion.
Deeper into the listen, “Pandemonium” showcases unpredictable sax prowess amid a playful, melodic climate, while “Foot Divide” flows with a dreamy quality of Eastern influences. “Interlude”, an especially great tune, then emits warm guitar playing as Lehtela’s vision is both stirring and soothing.
Further yet, the title track has guitar and sax working together with a haunting, bare demeanor, and “Epilogue” finishes with 30 seconds of swift drumming and a lively pulse of avant-garde sounds.
Certainly experimental and containing bits of jazz, prog and even neoclassical moments, there isn’t anything else out there that quite sounds like Ari Lehtela, and anytime spent with this impressive record is absolutely time well spent.
Travels well with: Carl Vollrath- Old & New Poetry; Mark John McEncroe- Fanfare Suite