Revelations Of Divine Love

Description

Fifth album by Jason Calhoun for Dear Life Records, revelations of divine love is a record that buzzes, vibrates, and shines. Far from his recent stretched and hypnotic compositions, the fourteen tracks here immediately demand attention. Their conciseness highlights one of his greatest strengths: capturing a fleeting moment and holding it close. The title is a tribute to the English mystic Julian of Norwich, whose eponymous work is the oldest prose text written by a woman in English. It serves here as a guiding thread for Calhoun's palette — agitated textures and hesitant melodies. A personal music, but also tactile, almost malleable in its presentation. Like when the tenacious pulse of "last one" suddenly changes color, or when "eye dilation" enters the room on tiptoe, each note like a carefully chosen step. Calhoun expresses it simply: "Julian of Norwich says 'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.' These days, I have doubts. So I seek the revelations of divine love in my life, and I find them — in my partner sleeping on the floor of our studio, my survival of a social interaction with a stranger, my poor performance in chess." It is from this place of doubt, searching, and openness that the album finds its balance. Calhoun works in an oncology center, performing routine but necessary work. His work, too, offers care and companionship.