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Honourable Mention Number Fourteen
Zeena Parkins -
Three Harps, Tuning Forks & Electronics
Right like it says on the cover, folks. This is some music for three harps, tuning forks, and electronics. Some of the objects used to prepare and play said harps are e-bows, basting brushes, metal bolts, rubber/hard yarn and wooden mallets, and 2-inch ribbon. Zeena Parkins is joined by Nuiko Wadden, Kristen Theriault, and Megan Conley on this record. Long time collaborator Ikue Mori also appears on the track Tuning Forks (if you haven't heard Zeena and Ikue together,
rectify that ASAP). As one should expect from Zeena Parkins, the harp technique on this record is insanely inventive and diverse. It goes beyond that with the performers having great interplay in their hypnotic minimalist electroacoustic soundscapes. The electronics bring this to another level imo. This is marked as indeterminacy on RYM but idk about that. The record is gorgeous, spaceous, surprising, and goddamn just some really ****ing good **** check it out.
Sidenote: since we're on the subject of electroacoustic harps, check out
this 2018 release.