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about

Conceived and created as a tribute to Joni Mitchell, 'Swallowed by the Sky' presents original soundscapes by anthéne, Slow Dancing Society, and orchestramaxfieldparrish that were inspired by her music and honour her in spirit.

“These three ambient musicians dedicate their music to Joni, and in doing so, they evoke something just as deep as her soulful songs ... This sweet, soothing music has a light, feminine touch, singing on the air like a wordless expression of her vocal poetry.”
'Fluid Radio,' August 1st, 2019; full review:
www.fluid-radio.co.uk/2019/07/swallowed-by-the-sky/

“The music possesses a finely tuned synergy, one work preparing for and blending seamlessly into the next ... This is certainly music with a broader, more philosophical perspective than most we are accustomed to.”
'Azure Miles Records,' August 8th, 2019; full review:
www.azuremilesrecords.com/post-music.html

Note: one-minute samples of all three pieces appear in the promo video (www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL1TGdviUko) and at the textura site's label page (www.textura.org/pages/archives.htm)
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THOUGH THE NUMBER of popular artists who've had a transformative cultural impact is modest, Joni Mitchell is inarguably a member of that exclusive club. Certainly one indicator of her stature is the tribute compilation, of which a generous number have been released over the years, the recent 'Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration' a prime example. In that and other instances, fellow singer-songwriters have recorded covers of her songs, but appreciation for Joni and her music extends beyond that immediate sphere to other stylistic realms, jazz and ambient soundscaping among them. To that end, 'Swallowed by the Sky,' textura's fourth release, sees a trinity of artists associated with the latter genre, anthéne (Brad Deschamps), Slow Dancing Society (Drew Sullivan), and orchestramaxfieldparrish (Mike Fazio), presenting newly created, long-form works that are, among other things, homages to an artist all three hold in high regard.

Joni aficionados will no doubt recognize allusions in both the album and composition titles, but 'Swallowed by the Sky''s connections run deeper than mere reference. While the anthéne and Slow Dancing Society settings are very much true to the stylistic character of the work for which they're known, their soundscapes feel as if her spirit was channeled during the creative process. To produce “Letters From Across the Sea,” Deschamps drew for inspiration from relatively scaled-down creations such as 'Clouds'' “Tin Angel” and “Roses Blue” and explored the light-dark juxtapositions often present in her songs. In his piece's opening minutes, gently undulating tones and washes induce deep entrancement as the piece works its meditative magic; gradual shifts in the terrain occur as elements emerge from the background and effect subtle shifts in mood before retreating, clearing a path for darker tonalities to assert themselves. Complementary to anthéne's setting, Sullivan's “Devils and Deeds” generates tension in the circumspect sequencing of its guitar and keyboard figures. A slowly mutating base provides a firm foundation over top of which melodic motifs recur, the gaps separating their voicings adding to the tension. This is material where every gesture resonates with meaning and purpose, such that the emergence of swollen bass throbs (at the thirteen- and fifteen-minute marks) startles the listener with their force.

If the orchestramaxfieldparrish setting is daringly different from the material Fazio has released under the alias before, it's at the same time emblematic of his resolutely explorative approach to music-making. To bring “The Clouds of Michelangelo” into being, the guitarist worked with longtime friends Jo Gabriel (vocals) and Thomas Hamlin (percussion). Fazio began by using the C tuning (CACFGC) heard in “The Silky Veils of Ardor” and “Off Night Backstreet,” pieces redolent of the adventurous era that birthed 'The Hissing of Summer Lawns,' 'Hejira,' and 'Don Juan's Reckless Daughter.' The percussion elements nod to “Dreamland” and “The Jungle Line,” whereas the howls at track's end reference the 1979 'Mingus' track “The Wolf That Lives in Lindsey” and were recorded at a Colorado wolf sanctuary. Fazio's eighteen-minute contribution to the project is a fantastic voyage in the truest sense, a transporting creation that advances with a sense of inevitability from one episode to the next.

These and other details testify to the deep connection all three artists have to Joni and her music. The remarkable, richly textured works they've created likewise show how profoundly they've been affected by her work and Joni herself as an artistic figure. 'Swallowed by the Sky' will no doubt be followed by other tributes, but it's unlikely any will replicate it in stylistic terms. It's as original an homage as could be imagined and thus dovetails perfectly with the spirit of the artist it honours.
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anthéne

Toronto-based Bradley Sean Alexander Deschamps operates as a solo artist under the anthéne alias and issues North Atlantic Drift material in partnership with Mike Abercrombie. Deschamps oversees Polar Seas Recordings and has released anthéne and North Atlantic Drift recordings on the label, as well as recordings by Celer, Hakobune, and David Newlyn, among others. Recent anthéne releases also have appeared on Home Normal, Whitelabelrecs, and Hibernate.

Slow Dancing Society

Since the release of his Slow Dancing Society debut 'The Sound of Lights When Dim' in 2006, Spokane, Washington resident Drew Sullivan has mesmerized listeners with an impressive body of Hidden Shoal releases featuring his trademark blend of electronics, keyboards, and electric guitar. His recent two-volume set 'The Torchlight Parade,' selected as textura's top ambient release of 2018, shows this distinguished ambient-electronic artist operating at a creative high.

orchestramaxfieldparrish

New York-based Mike Fazio has issued solo material under the orchestramaxfieldparrish guise since 1999, much of it through his Faith Strange imprint. His artistic sensibility has manifested itself in many different forms over the years, whether it be through releases issued under the orchestramaxfieldparrish name (2008's 'The Silent Breath of Emptiness' and 2010's 'Crossing of Shadows,' two examples of many) or as A Guide For Reason, orchestramaxfieldparrish presents ÆRA, or simply Fazio.

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released August 1, 2019

textura 004
formats: download/full-length CD (200 copies)

mastering: Mike Fazio
photography: Jürgen Heckel

www.textura.org

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