Cypress Suite
Featuring Marielle Jakobsons, Patrick Shiroishi and Kristine Barrett, Chuck Johnson's latest Longform EP is a durational experiment for pipe organ that oozes from cosmic euphoria into deep, heady minimalism.
Based in California, Johnson - who's released on Three Lobed, Strange Attractors, All Saints and Thrill Jockey - took a residency at the now-defunct Mills College only weeks before it was absorbed into Northeastern University. He wanted to spend time with its 1968 Holtkamp pipe organ, and spent a month recording it, composing two durational pieces. He reworked one of those solo pieces into 'Cypress Suite', inviting fellow Mills grads Jakobsons (on piano) and Barrett (on vocals) to join the ensemble, and woodwind maestro Shiroishi to add the finishing touches.
It's during the first half that the piece is most animated, introducing the organ on its own before adding additional elements. Barret's disarming vocals appear first, joined by Johnson's subtle pedal steel drones, Shiroishi's reeds, Jakobsons' plodding, melancholy piano tones and eventually, Johnson's swirling synths. But this doesn't last long; he lets the density dissipate, giving the pipe organ's soft, warm tones the full focus in the final third. If you've got the stomach for another organ drone record, this one's a real soother.
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Featuring Marielle Jakobsons, Patrick Shiroishi and Kristine Barrett, Chuck Johnson's latest Longform EP is a durational experiment for pipe organ that oozes from cosmic euphoria into deep, heady minimalism.
Based in California, Johnson - who's released on Three Lobed, Strange Attractors, All Saints and Thrill Jockey - took a residency at the now-defunct Mills College only weeks before it was absorbed into Northeastern University. He wanted to spend time with its 1968 Holtkamp pipe organ, and spent a month recording it, composing two durational pieces. He reworked one of those solo pieces into 'Cypress Suite', inviting fellow Mills grads Jakobsons (on piano) and Barrett (on vocals) to join the ensemble, and woodwind maestro Shiroishi to add the finishing touches.
It's during the first half that the piece is most animated, introducing the organ on its own before adding additional elements. Barret's disarming vocals appear first, joined by Johnson's subtle pedal steel drones, Shiroishi's reeds, Jakobsons' plodding, melancholy piano tones and eventually, Johnson's swirling synths. But this doesn't last long; he lets the density dissipate, giving the pipe organ's soft, warm tones the full focus in the final third. If you've got the stomach for another organ drone record, this one's a real soother.
Featuring Marielle Jakobsons, Patrick Shiroishi and Kristine Barrett, Chuck Johnson's latest Longform EP is a durational experiment for pipe organ that oozes from cosmic euphoria into deep, heady minimalism.
Based in California, Johnson - who's released on Three Lobed, Strange Attractors, All Saints and Thrill Jockey - took a residency at the now-defunct Mills College only weeks before it was absorbed into Northeastern University. He wanted to spend time with its 1968 Holtkamp pipe organ, and spent a month recording it, composing two durational pieces. He reworked one of those solo pieces into 'Cypress Suite', inviting fellow Mills grads Jakobsons (on piano) and Barrett (on vocals) to join the ensemble, and woodwind maestro Shiroishi to add the finishing touches.
It's during the first half that the piece is most animated, introducing the organ on its own before adding additional elements. Barret's disarming vocals appear first, joined by Johnson's subtle pedal steel drones, Shiroishi's reeds, Jakobsons' plodding, melancholy piano tones and eventually, Johnson's swirling synths. But this doesn't last long; he lets the density dissipate, giving the pipe organ's soft, warm tones the full focus in the final third. If you've got the stomach for another organ drone record, this one's a real soother.
Featuring Marielle Jakobsons, Patrick Shiroishi and Kristine Barrett, Chuck Johnson's latest Longform EP is a durational experiment for pipe organ that oozes from cosmic euphoria into deep, heady minimalism.
Based in California, Johnson - who's released on Three Lobed, Strange Attractors, All Saints and Thrill Jockey - took a residency at the now-defunct Mills College only weeks before it was absorbed into Northeastern University. He wanted to spend time with its 1968 Holtkamp pipe organ, and spent a month recording it, composing two durational pieces. He reworked one of those solo pieces into 'Cypress Suite', inviting fellow Mills grads Jakobsons (on piano) and Barrett (on vocals) to join the ensemble, and woodwind maestro Shiroishi to add the finishing touches.
It's during the first half that the piece is most animated, introducing the organ on its own before adding additional elements. Barret's disarming vocals appear first, joined by Johnson's subtle pedal steel drones, Shiroishi's reeds, Jakobsons' plodding, melancholy piano tones and eventually, Johnson's swirling synths. But this doesn't last long; he lets the density dissipate, giving the pipe organ's soft, warm tones the full focus in the final third. If you've got the stomach for another organ drone record, this one's a real soother.