Dessner Archive

“Filament” = Works of DESSNER, MUHLY, LUX & GLASS – eighth blackbird – Cedille vinyl & CD

by Audiophile Audition | Mar 28, 2016 | SACD & Other Hi-Res Reviews

Fear not minimalism or new music—hear this with joy and gratitude. “Filament” = BRYCE DESSNER: Murder Ballades; NICO MUHLY: Doublespeak; SON LUX: To Love; This is My Line; PHILIP GLASS: Two Pages – eighth blackbird – Cedille CDR60000 157, vinyl & CD, 49:10, (7/08/16) [Distr. by Naxos] ****: Chicago based Eighth Blackbird is absolutely one of the finest new music ensembles in the country. They are all superb musicians and their choice in repertory is excellent; something that, fortunately, has given them a stellar reputation with contemporary composers and this amazing rep list becomes self-supporting. This new collection is a perfect example and was recorded live at Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, in May of 2013. To me, the centerpiece of this set is the amazing Murder Ballades by the very talented guitarist (of the rock group “The National”) turned composer Bryce Dessner. This collection of seven captivating pieces is based on the very real and somewhat bizarre folk tradition of writing ballades and ditties that describe murders. The individual works are mostly based on actual folk melodies on this grisly topic; while “Dark Holler” is actually an original melody of Dessner’s in the same dark, folky but ominous style. This […]