To Feel Embraced - Vinyle Turquoise

Description

An energetic electronic fusion of lounge, jazz, and disco may not be the first thing you’d expect to hear from one of the world's most acclaimed modern composers and a pioneer of ambient tape-looping. But upon listening, it makes so much sense that one wonders why it didn’t happen sooner. After years of producing and fostering numerous young artists in 1990s Williamsburg, Brooklyn, William Basinski relocated to Los Angeles. There, he hired a young studio assistant, Preston Wendel, who eventually presented his own works to the highly curious composer. This led to a creative partnership that saw Wendel convince Basinski to dust off his saxophone. Five years later, Sparkle Division arrives with their debut album, 'To Feel Embraced'. Produced by Sparkle Division at Basinski's Musex International label in Los Angeles, the duo was joined by some remarkable friends: Leonora Russo lends her sparkling vocals to "Queenie Got Her Blues"; legendary free-jazz icon and true bodhisattva, the late Henry Grimes, contributed double bass and violin to the aptly named track "Oh Henry!"; and London vocalist Xeli Grana offers her ethereal voice to the album's meditative title track. Conceived and nearly completed in 2016, growing environmental and political turmoil cooled Basinski and Wendel to the idea of releasing an album meant to be fun, affectionate, and capable of inducing bursts of euphoria. But as Basinski finally exclaimed, it’s now or never.