Six Seasons: Instrumentation Lab
New Focus, 2026
9/10
Listen to Six Seasons: Instrumentation Lab
Lei Liang is aligned with members of Ensemble Dal Niente, Mivos Quartet, loadbang, (nec)shivaree, and the pianist Stephen Dury for these very adventurous 2 discs of atypical chamber sounds.
The brief and cryptic “Prelude” opens with Stephen Drury’s keys alongside a hint of ambience, and it isn’t long until “Season 1: New Ice” blends Ty Bouque’s voice, Andrew Kozar’s trumpet with William Lang’s trombone amid field recording-esque noises.
Further on, loadbang are in attendance for the hissing and/or rain like sounds of “Season 3: Sunrise”, while “Season 5: Cacophony” recruits voice, trombone, Adrián Sandi’s bass clarinet, keys and Tyler J. Borden’s cello via the oddly rhythmic and uniquely soothing 5 chapters.
Disc 2 offers us the 6 ensemble segments of “Season”, where the seemingly otherworldly noises emanate from Mark Abramovoski’s contrabass, Kai Burns’ electric guitar and Nicolette Sullivan-Cozza’s viola, and “Coda” exits with a demeanor that leaves it unclear if it should soundtrack a nature film or sci-fi flick thanks to Kei Otake’s cello and Rachel Brake’s French horn.
A curious effort of multidisciplinary sounds, there’s a distinct chamber presence that you won’t hear anywhere else, as Liang and company make every moment unpredictable and inviting.
Travels well with: Peter Kramer- To A Green Thought In A Green Shade; Richard Carrick- I’Algérie