Blue Lake – Stikling

Label: Not On Label – PLY007 Format: Vinyl, LP Country: Denmark Released: 2022 Genre: Folk, World, & Country Style: Ambient, Acoustic The third Blue lake is a real step up in scale and intention. It’s truly beautiful melodically inventive instrumental folk that constantly surprises. I first came across Jason Dungan’s music when I saw the improv band he is part of, Squares and Triangles in that weird pebbledash project space by Cafe Oto. They were good, but a little loosely woven for me. Then I saw them again at Black Tower and picked up the first Blue Lake there - mainly based on the fact that it had a nice sleeve. Some of it was too free, but there were two totally arresting clarinet pieces that I wanted to go on forever. When the second record came out things clicked further. Dry, spare and sun-dappled it was mainly based around the zither. Then there was a tape with gorgeous Harry-Partch like percussion miniatures. And now it’s all together on this new LP. The clarinet, the zither, the drums, the loose-weave and the close knit; all forming rippling patterns of rhythm and repetition that conjure up a sunstruck afternoon in a white room. Next LP on ECM?... (NM) Tracklist A1 Open Window A2 Thread A3 Shoots B1 Stikling