Colin Stetson
New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges

★★★½

Stetson is one of the harder to define musicians from this decade for me. For a good reason too. Borrowing from the minimalist handbook of those such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass as well as the technique from saxophonists such as Roland Kirk and Anthony Braxton. He is able to create a modern New York scene avant album that aligns itself with classical and jazz while also adopting some electronic repetitiveness. The spoken word is not something worth honestly analyzing and in many ways limits the effect that Stetson's playing can have. Without knowing, one must think that this music is played by an ensemble or mixed to perfection with loops and dubs. Yet this all Stetson by himself, further promoting his creative and driven attitude towards this style of music. A unique and great experience but one I am not likely to return to, except perhaps in a live setting. 

Favorite Song: The Stars in His Head (Dark Lights Remix)   

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