On Repeat: Duo, Quartet, Solo

On Sundays I try to at least quickly note some of my favorite listening from the week prior — things I would later regret having not written about in more depth, so better to share here briefly than not at all.

▰ This duet between guitarist Eivind Aarset and electronic musician Jan Bang was recorded early in the pandemic, but I believe has only just now appeared online. A lot of the music Aarset makes is deeply indebted to Miles Davis’ electric era, and to the subsequent work of Jon Hassell; this track is a reminder that Brian Eno and David Byrne’s My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, which bears the influence of Hassell, also looms large. The piece, “Witness,” originally appeared on the duo’s fantastic 2020 album Snow Catches On Her Eyelashes.

▰ A very tight saxophone quartet performance, by the Amstel Quartet, based in Amsterdam, of a segment of Philip Glass’ score to Mishima. This is Vitaly Vatulya, soprano; Olivier Sliepen, alto; Bas Apswoude, tenor; and Harry Cherrin, baritone. There are moments when the highest part, which I assume is Vatulya’s soprano, chiming away, puts this over the top. Just tremendous.

▰ Ted Laderas, aka the OO-Ray, is back — or will be soon — with the forthcoming solo album Marginals, on the great Beacon Sound label. It’s due out August 15, 2025. Laderas plays solo cello with an array of electronic accompaniment and processing. Two tracks are up for pre-release listening. Especially recommended is “Harrow,” which has a quiet pulse and thick layers of playing.