Into Air
Redshift, 2026
8/10
The Canadian composer Robert Humber assembles 4 works composed for multi-tracked soloists between 2020-2022, where comparisons to Paul Dolden, Julia Wolfe and Missy Mazzoli make sense.
“into air” opens with 3 chapters, where the five violins interact with much emphasis on tonality thanks to Adrian Irvine’s attentiveness via the distinct melodies and charming string interaction.
In the middle, “mothmouth” combines 3 guitars by Ben Diamond that radiate detailed picking and animated dynamics in a classical setting, while “murmurations’, performed by Stephen Eckert, enlists 6 pianos that unfolds across 12 minutes of mesmerizing and strategic use of single notes.
“singing in circles” exits, and it benefits from solo cello and cello octet thanks to Heather Tuach that embraces melancholy and much technicality amid the firm versus bare gestures.
A body of work rooted in pandemic necessity, the home studio technology appeal makes for creative processes that captures Romanticism to Spectralism, plenty of improvisation and an abundance of contemporary classical ideas.
Travels well with: Meredith Bates- The Observer Effect; Nick Fraser- Areas