Okkyung Lee
Nihm
★★★½
It's the cello like you probably haven't heard in quite a while. This is probably one of the more clean and sterile records I've heard from the Tzadik label and I don't mean that in a bad way. The instruments here feel so delicate but somehow are pushed to their limits in ways I definitely haven't heard before.
The album starts and ends with two very serene and floating pieces, which really helps introduce and wrap up this project. Near the middle it gets really varied, from insect like electronic manipulations to thrashing strings. I would say the two pieces that stuck out like a sore thumb were "That Undeniable Empty Feeling" and "Returning Points". The former could've fit in on any Masada project, but not here. The latter seems to go nowhere and was really a shame for the longest song on the album.
Each song has a different sort of lineup which helps provide this variety and for the most part it works really well. You get a feel for how Lee can really adapt and thrive in each musical setting. It all leads to the climax, which for me is the solo cello piece "Sky".
"Sky", while overtly beautiful even in its simplicity, will probably be the piece that is most memorable on this and the one I will return to the most. I wish their were more releases like this that infused so many different ideas and techniques into one coherent statement of art.
Favorite Song: Sky
The album starts and ends with two very serene and floating pieces, which really helps introduce and wrap up this project. Near the middle it gets really varied, from insect like electronic manipulations to thrashing strings. I would say the two pieces that stuck out like a sore thumb were "That Undeniable Empty Feeling" and "Returning Points". The former could've fit in on any Masada project, but not here. The latter seems to go nowhere and was really a shame for the longest song on the album.
Each song has a different sort of lineup which helps provide this variety and for the most part it works really well. You get a feel for how Lee can really adapt and thrive in each musical setting. It all leads to the climax, which for me is the solo cello piece "Sky".
"Sky", while overtly beautiful even in its simplicity, will probably be the piece that is most memorable on this and the one I will return to the most. I wish their were more releases like this that infused so many different ideas and techniques into one coherent statement of art.
Favorite Song: Sky
Comments
Post a Comment