Maxime
Jefre-Cantu Ledesma now has an important catalogue, and I have to say there is not a single of his records that I do not like. That being said, this one is easily in my top 3... It is delicate but multidimensional, rich in details and very rewarding.
Some records aren’t as simple as they seem. Most are capsules of beauty and creative vision, or sublime objects of expression which occupy the abstract realms. But the rare few are also discrete philosophies, realized in sound – a truth brought to the forefront by Mexican Summer veteran, Jefre Cantu-Ledesma’s, latest venture, Tracing Back The Radiance. A radical departure from pop drenched melodies which have defined his recent efforts, its experimental forms offer a dynamic rethinking of the terms and possibilities of discourse and collaboration – a vast ambient landscape of abstraction, texture, and tone, beneath which lingers a veiled vision, addressing the challenges of our increasingly disassociated age.
A slow, delicate meditation – open space punctuated by the restrained harmonics of vibraphone, processing, flute, pedal steel, synthesizer, piano, organ, and voice, Tracing Back The Radiance grew from a few simple piano lines, a need for change, and an evolving process which fell somewhere between conversation, singular vision, and a wild game of exquisite corpse – Cantu-Ledesma acting as contributor, servant, and guiding force to the emerging album’s all-star cast of voices – John Also Bennett, Marilu Donavan, Chuck Johnson, Gregg Kowalsky, Mary Lattimore, David Moore, Meara O’Reilly, Jonathan Sielaff, Roger Tellier Craig, and Christopher Tignor, each responding and intervening from various corners of North America.
credits
released July 12, 2019
Jefre Cantu-Ledesma - Effects processing, Vibraphone.
John Also Bennett - Flute
Marilu Donavan - Harp
Chuck Johnson - Pedal steel guitar
Gregg Kowalsky - Synthesizer
Mary Lattimore - Harp
David Moore - Piano, Organ.
Meara O'Reilly - Voice
Jonathan Sielaff - Bass Clarinet
Roger Tellier Craig - Synthesizer, Effects processing
Christopher Tignor - Violin
supported by 81 fans who also own “TRACING BACK THE RADIANCE”
My god, what an absolutely incredible Suite. I'll admit, I've struggled to get into Pharoah Sanders due to diving headfirst into some of his most challenging catalogue and that never worked. This is the perfect place to restart. Floating Points is new for me and I can honestly say I've never heard synthesizer music this lush and organic before. the LSO is just perfect. This is one of those albums that any serious music fan needs in their life. The perfect swan song for the great Pharaoh! 5/5 ClassyMusicSnob
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