Very few artists today can fuse their musical influences as well as Mary Halvorson. The composer/guitarist has an uncanny ability to meld all her influences into a unique voice that cannot be replicated by anyone. Her new release Artlessly Falling is no exception to this fact. A masterpiece where each tune is truly unique shows that the MacArthur Foundation recipient is not running short on ideas or inspiration. The eight tracks were written in poetic forms that Halvorson herself wrote, and the music that has come to fruition from her pen as a poet has created poetry in sound that I am sure audiences will want to “reread” again and again. She is joined by Amirtha Kidambi on vocals, Michael Formanek on bass, Tomas Fujiwara on drums, Adam O’Farrill on trumpet, María Grand on saxophone, and special guest vocalist Robert Wyatt.
This musical poetic landscape opens up with “A Nearing” which sets the tone for things to come. Formanek opens things up with a solo entrance that quickly settles into a groove that the band builds over. The versatility of the ensemble can be embodied in hearing Kidambi’s voice, which is serene at times and others direct with weight and intensity. The title track “Artlessly Falling” takes one through many emotions as the soundscape is continuously changing. The poetry effortlessly flows- or should I say falls- over these different sonic backdrops leaving the listener in a perpetual state of eager calmness. The improvisatory rubato feel builds and then suddenly a powerful groove comes from nowhere as the listener nears the end of their listening freefall before hitting the end of the tune. The eeriness of “Last Minute Smears” is almost as scary as the person and words that inspired them. Grand’s saxophone brings her own sense of melodic poetry to this track, and the bending sounds of the Kidambi’s vocals truly bring out the mood of this piece. “Mexican War Streets (Pittsburgh)” is magnificent in its delivery, and one can almost imagine it being the soundtrack to a vigilante movie.
The use of sound effects by Halvorson is genius and shows her diverse array of influences as heavy metal guitar then gives way to an almost Radiohead like sound, and from there I honestly am lost for words to describe the amazing ideas that she comes up with. Grand also graces this track with her vocals alongside Kidambi. Much like “Artlessly Falling” the opening sounds of “Muzzling Unwashed” reminds me of 60’s rock n’ roll with the chords that open the tune. Farrill’s solo is fluid with ideas seamlessly flowing one to the next. The three selections featuring British vocalist, Robert Wyatt is a testament to Halvorson’s artistic sensitivity. “Bigger Flames,” “Lemon Trees,” and the final track of the album “Walls and Roses” were written by the legendary vocalist, and one can truly not imagine anyone else singing these selections. The quirkiness of the poetry is brought to life in this final track where one might assume this was a rock album if they had walked in the room at the right moment. The twists and turns are what have come to personify the essence of Halvorson as an artist, and I truly believe she is one of the least predictable improvisers as Howard Mandel has said.
Halvorson spent months writing the poetry that would be the blueprint for this music, and after it was done she said that music came rather quickly. I do believe that the arts are always indelibly intertwined, inspiring each other in an endless free fall of creativity. I truly enjoyed the brilliance of this album, and all the pieces fit together so well. From the cast of musicians to the way the music embodies the music and the music embodies the words, it is truly an art. It is to be appreciated, admired, pondered over, loved, hated, enjoyed, provoke thought, and most importantly– to just be.
For further information please visit the artist’s website
Photograph by James Wang
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