Mothertongue | Nico Muhly
My review of Nico Muhly’s Mothertongue ran today in the Boston Phoenix.
This album caught me at just the right time. I had been listening to a lot of Philip Glass (whom Muhly has worked with and studied under) and was seeking out like-minded music. Muhly’s work definitely incorporates the minimalist influence of Glass; much of the opening suite resembles the vocal performances of Einstein on the Beach.
He tempers his classical influences and training with an accessible dosage of familiar post-rock arrangement.
Fans of Sigur Ros or Bjork will find it quite interesting, as it occupies some of the same territory: experimental yet familiar, progressive yet tightly composed.
A particularly standout performance on the album comes from singer Sam Amidon, whose twangy vocals give the final suite, “The Only Tune,” a startling poignancy. I’m definitely going to have to check out his solo work now, and hope to catch both Muhly and Amidon when they come to Boston together in August.
[tags]Nico Muhly, Mothertongue, Brassland, Album Review, Minimalism[/tags]
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