battle trance - palace of wind

free-jazz sax textures arranged à la classical minimalism, this is pretty seductive. would love to see it live. and loud.

https://soundcloud.com/nnatapes/nna073-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYzn_6Eu1-g

all the copy i've read on this -- including that written by the label -- is totally pretentious and cringeworthy. but the music is great.

`PALACE OF WIND is a piece that not only transcends genres, but also transcends time and space. Existing in the cracks between contemporary classical music, avant-garde jazz, black metal, ambient, and world music, `Palace of Wind' is an album-length composition that pushes the four saxophonists to the limit, shedding new light on the saxophone as an ensemble instrument. The players use circular breathing to build continuous, hypnotic waves of sound; multiphonics layer to create intricate textures that seem to come from an ancient time; and blisteringly fast lines seem to liquefy into each other. Unorthodox articulations and unusual fingerings are also part of the vast sonic vocabulary that the members of Battle Trance have painstakingly mastered. However, `Palace of Wind' isn't merely concerned with demonstrating the virtuosity of the ensemble, nor with impressing or entertaining the listener. Instead, it is meant to be a portal of resonance where there is no separation between the listener and the sound.'

barf! but just listen to that soundcloud clip!

Taylor Swift - 1989 [Started by lex pretend in August 2014, last updated 28 seconds ago by boxedjoy] 397 new answers

you know patrick? he lived here for awhile (during which time i coerced him into playing on the first Chants record). this is cool shit.

into this. that's a pretty good album cover too.

http://www.hartzine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/battle-trance-palace-of-wind.jpg

hey jordan, no i didn't know there was a connection so close to home.

is that cover photoshopped or is there, like, a real place that looks like that? b/c if so, must visit.

I was really slow on hearing this but I have to say this is absolutely wonderful. A real beauty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp8RCzUJoQQ
Hawa Mahal ("Palace of the Winds") in Jaipur, India.

Finally heard the new one, Blade of Love. About the same level as the last one, i.e. excellent. And woefully ignored.

https://battletrance.bandcamp.com/album/blade-of-love

seems to be getting a lot of attention for a sax quartet album!

Not in the places I frequent then; I'm glad if it has some popularity I'm completely unaware of.

plenty of reviews (incl. Pitchfork), plenty of sales on that Bandcamp page...

the Chicago Reed Quartet's Western Automatic album from last year was on a very similar tip and also excellent.

new one is gorgeous

Travis is my homie, but I would think that regardless, I'm sure

speaking of woefully ignored, here's a plug for my homie Tony B@rba's new album of solo saxophone + electronics:
https://tonybarba.bandcamp.com/album/winters-arms

very ambient/drone-y/pretty for the most part

saw battle trance last night with only a cursory knowledge of their music, it was a cool show

i didn't go when they were here, because i'm super lame :(

i only went bc it was very near my house and an 8:30 show with no openers. it was over by 9:40. i am also lame.

seeing them tomorrow at like midnight at the end of what might be six other shows which hardly strikes me as the best way to engage them but still kinda hyped.