Omni Love (Environments)
Remember MV & EE? Matt Valentine is still very much at it, and his contribution to Longform is 20-odd minutes of expectedly psychedelic raga experimentation.
Valentine was notorious primarily for being one of the artists associated most readily with the New Weird America or free folk movement. He was incredibly prolific and while he's slowed down since the early-mid '00s, he's still cranking out material that broadcasts his distinct personal philosophy. Based deep in the Vermont forest, he's dedicated to long form music, which makes this release all the more fitting. "I play longform music every day," he admits. "I’ve been wandering with music for a long time but really not very long at all. I feel best when I’m within it."
'Omni Love' is made with an arsenal of instruments from South Asia, including a tambura, swarmandal, swarsangam, and electronic tabla. Valentine also uses a modified 1940s kay banjo that he found in a junk shop in the mountains, and his choice to play this alongside the Indian instruments is key - he draws a line between these different folk traditions and not sloppily. Valentine's dedication to the form is commendable and his sounds are always evolving, always absorbing. Light up and sail away.
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Remember MV & EE? Matt Valentine is still very much at it, and his contribution to Longform is 20-odd minutes of expectedly psychedelic raga experimentation.
Valentine was notorious primarily for being one of the artists associated most readily with the New Weird America or free folk movement. He was incredibly prolific and while he's slowed down since the early-mid '00s, he's still cranking out material that broadcasts his distinct personal philosophy. Based deep in the Vermont forest, he's dedicated to long form music, which makes this release all the more fitting. "I play longform music every day," he admits. "I’ve been wandering with music for a long time but really not very long at all. I feel best when I’m within it."
'Omni Love' is made with an arsenal of instruments from South Asia, including a tambura, swarmandal, swarsangam, and electronic tabla. Valentine also uses a modified 1940s kay banjo that he found in a junk shop in the mountains, and his choice to play this alongside the Indian instruments is key - he draws a line between these different folk traditions and not sloppily. Valentine's dedication to the form is commendable and his sounds are always evolving, always absorbing. Light up and sail away.
Remember MV & EE? Matt Valentine is still very much at it, and his contribution to Longform is 20-odd minutes of expectedly psychedelic raga experimentation.
Valentine was notorious primarily for being one of the artists associated most readily with the New Weird America or free folk movement. He was incredibly prolific and while he's slowed down since the early-mid '00s, he's still cranking out material that broadcasts his distinct personal philosophy. Based deep in the Vermont forest, he's dedicated to long form music, which makes this release all the more fitting. "I play longform music every day," he admits. "I’ve been wandering with music for a long time but really not very long at all. I feel best when I’m within it."
'Omni Love' is made with an arsenal of instruments from South Asia, including a tambura, swarmandal, swarsangam, and electronic tabla. Valentine also uses a modified 1940s kay banjo that he found in a junk shop in the mountains, and his choice to play this alongside the Indian instruments is key - he draws a line between these different folk traditions and not sloppily. Valentine's dedication to the form is commendable and his sounds are always evolving, always absorbing. Light up and sail away.
Remember MV & EE? Matt Valentine is still very much at it, and his contribution to Longform is 20-odd minutes of expectedly psychedelic raga experimentation.
Valentine was notorious primarily for being one of the artists associated most readily with the New Weird America or free folk movement. He was incredibly prolific and while he's slowed down since the early-mid '00s, he's still cranking out material that broadcasts his distinct personal philosophy. Based deep in the Vermont forest, he's dedicated to long form music, which makes this release all the more fitting. "I play longform music every day," he admits. "I’ve been wandering with music for a long time but really not very long at all. I feel best when I’m within it."
'Omni Love' is made with an arsenal of instruments from South Asia, including a tambura, swarmandal, swarsangam, and electronic tabla. Valentine also uses a modified 1940s kay banjo that he found in a junk shop in the mountains, and his choice to play this alongside the Indian instruments is key - he draws a line between these different folk traditions and not sloppily. Valentine's dedication to the form is commendable and his sounds are always evolving, always absorbing. Light up and sail away.