Riparian

Description

For over thirty years, Eyvind Kang has been exploring the blurred boundaries between composer, performer, and listener. With *Riparian*, he delivers one of his most intimate and concentrated works to date: two long pieces for viola d’amore, improvised using microtonal systems developed during the pandemic. This approach, which Kang himself calls "Riparian," evokes the image of a river crossed in multiple directions, fluid and nonlinear, where each subtle variation creates a living movement. "I thought of pizzicato and arco as stones in a stream," he explains, "a kind of anchored randomness, like a frog or a turtle moving between water and land." Each piece on *Riparian* is recorded in a single take, in what Kang describes as "a form of storytelling among like-minded friends." The result is music that flows with a quiet intensity and rare emotional clarity, unfolding melodies that are both ancient and profoundly present. The improvisational approach lends the compositions a spontaneity that captures attention and invites careful listening. Produced and recorded by Randall Dunn (SUNN O))), Omar Souleyman, Kali Malone), the album captures the full resonance of the viola d’amore in a rich, dimensional sound. Dunn's work brings warmth and transparency to Kang's lyrical phrasing, revealing subtle sonic textures. Meditative and expressive, *Riparian* immerses the listener in a space where time dissolves and sound becomes a mode of attention and alignment with the work.