Annie Gosfield

Lost Signals and Drifting Satellites

★★★½

Annie Gosfield is a modern composer of the Tzadik and Bang on a Can sort; appealing to the knowledgeable crowd while also luring in newcomers. She has a very industrial sound, that is translated through the edges of the instruments she's composed for. Each one is pushed to its limits in order to create a jarring and memorable experience for the listener, and one that they had not prior thought possible. One of her pieces, "The Manufacture of Tangled Ivory", is a percussive prepared piano masterpiece. There is a primal and dense feel to a lot of her music, and subtle humor as well. On this album, Gosfield has shifted her style in order to explore the possibilities of what a string quartet can provide. The FLUX quartet in particular, is an amazing group which I think translate Gosfield's music very well. 

"Lightheaded and Heavyhearted" serves the composition title well. A patient but mathematical and sharp piece that pokes at you like a thorn at the side, making you jump. It is on the darker side of things, but the many moments of intensity and aggression is accompanied by brief relief and peace. Sometimes this might be hidden under layers, but it exists. The self-titled second piece introduces you to a spacey and electronic layer that fits snugly with the drawn out and static playing from the violinist. It's definitely one of the more unique and memorable moments from Gosfield, taking you on a grand journey through the dark and unknown space surrounding us. As the electronics become more textured and variant, so does the playing; the two cannot be separated.

Moving onto the shortest and most conservative piece, "Mentryville", Gosfield shows her grand design in creating prepared piano pieces. It's haunting and resonant, even as stable as it might sound, there's a chance the rusty parts will all finally give in. Must like the real Mentryville, listening to this almost gives the illusion that it is a soundtrack for walking through a ghost town. Looking at the disorder and imagining the fast-paced and vibrant lives that were lived out all around you. It's revealing. Back to what she does best, "The Harmony of the Body-Machine" takes you on a tour of the most mechanical and inhuman factories that exist. The creaking of wood, banging of metals, and deep voice of the cello all coalesce into a dark and completely rigid environment. 

Gosfield merges a field recording form with modern classical music in a way that is truly effective and gravitating. While this is fairly diverse and variable in style, I'm always secretly hoping that Gosfield pushes me into an area of extreme discomfort. She puts you on the slight edge of your seat, but never blows you away. Keeps the kettle boiling but never letting it boil over. Which in many ways is exciting, but one track after another it becomes more predictable. Gosfield has found a niche that interests me and I'm sure to return to, but not something I'm totally attached to. 

Favorite Song: Lost Signals and Drifting Satellites