The 2nd orchestral album from saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, two very different but complementary sets of compositions using electronics in mostly acoustic settings: the 1st with the larger EOS Chamber Orchestra and guests including Cory Smythe, Tom Rainey, & Sam Pluta; the 2nd a smaller group of Laubrock, Smythe & Pluta + guests Adam Motlock, Josh Modney, and Zeena Parkins.
Format: 2 CDs Condition: New Released: 2020 Country: Switzerland Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold 3 Panels w/ booklet CD1 recorded at Riverside Studios, in Cologne Germany, on December 5th and 6th, 2019, by Brigitte Angerhausen.
CD2 recorded Recorded at Oktaven Audio, in Mount Vernon, New York, on December 22nd and 23rd, 2019, by Ryan Streber.
"The double album Dreamt Twice, Twice Dreamt follows Ingrid Laubrock's landmark orchestral album Contemporary Chaos Practices from 2018 (Intakt CD 314).
On Dreamt Twice, Twice Dreamt Laubrock presents five compositions in double version. On the first CD, the EOS Chamber Orchestra Cologne interprets Laubrock's compositions. The soloists are Cory Smythe (piano), Sam Pluta (electronics), Robert Landfermann (bass), Tom Rainey (drums) and Ingrid Laubrock (saxophone). On the second CD of the double album, a filigree ensemble based around the core trio of Ingrid Laubrock, Cory Smythe, Sam Pluta and guests Adam Matlock, Josh Modney and Zeena Parkins play the same five compositions.
The two CDs of Dreamt Twice, Twice Dream contrast, diverge and complement each other. Ingrid Laubrock writes: "While the small-group versions were composed first, I did not just re-arrange those compositions for the orchestra but rather re-imagined them. As I wrote the large-scale pieces, I often zoomed in on a detail in a small-group version to generate a materially different large-group piece."
Dreamt Twice, Twice Dreamt paints fascinating musical panoramas, inspired by the composer's dream worlds, characterized by Laubrock's ability to compose and the individual colors and shades of the soloists."-Intakt
"Saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock's latest release, Dreamt Twice, Twice Dreamt, displays her unwavering talent as not only an improviser but as a composer/arranger as well. Recently, she has been focusing more on large scale composition, with her previous outing, Contemporary Chaos Practices (Intakt, 2018) receiving general praise. Yet, this new double-album features two disparate versions of five compositions originally written for small ensemble and later re-worked and expanded for chamber orchestra. The main inspiration for the pieces was Laubrock's dream diaries.
Disc one features the EOS Chamber Orchestra and a group of talented soloists that bring their improvisational creativity to the fore - electronics/sound artist Sam Pluta, keyboardist Cory Smythe, bassist Robert Landfermann, drummer Tom Rainey, and Laubrock herself on tenor and soprano saxophones. On the other side, disc two features a core trio with Laubrock, Pluta and Smythe plus Zeena Perkins on electric harp, Adam Matlock on accordion, and Josh Modney on violin.
"Dreamt Twice" (orchestra version) feels like a feather when compared with its wild, experimental small-ensemble version, "Twice Dreamt". The former, benefitting from the strong presences of piano and saxophone, embraces counterpoint, rhythmic abstraction and composed atmospheres with poetic gestures and enigmatic tones alike; it ends pacifically with strings. The latter, on its side, alienates through a glacial melancholy cut by sudden serrated attacks from electric harp.
"Snorkel Cows" offers another wonderful orchestral experience, but starts with a loose jazz tapestry weaved by piano, bass and drums. The sounds of woodwinds and strings come into view for textural consistency and also adorn Smythe's thrilling solo before a state of suspended uncanniness is established. On this section saxophone melodies are set to a slow swaying.
Note that the two dissimilar treatments applied to each composition make them totally autonomous when not stripped down to its essence. Take the case of "Drillings" (disc one), which, like a ballad, starts by spreading poignancy through a soft yet incisive orchestration receptive of modern classical and avant-garde idioms. Although considering the additional tension that erupts from the second half - you'll find gracious tenor stunts, a persuasive cinematic appeal and well-integrated electronics - nothing can be compared to the massive, relentless drones that launch the disc-two interpretation. The unexpectedness of a folk dance brought in by Matlock's accordion, as well as thoughtful sax lines hovering over the piano accompaniment serve to lessen the preliminary sonic commotion.
With respect to "I Never Liked That Guy", the small-ensemble version triumphs as a result of a haunting atmosphere that keeps pushing us into dark corners with skittering soprano diagonals over prostrate piano shapes and mysterious electronic effects. It all ends in a feast of ostinatos.
This extended opus offers a substantial listening with all its transitions, integrations and innovations. Laubrock's music can be slow-burning and quietly exploratory in one moment, combustible and antic the next. Here, she manages to keep the freshness and vibrancy for which her music is known."-Filipe Freitas, JazzTrail