Description
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Neon, the latest offering from Manchester Collective, is a paradoxical album that delves into the nocturnal realm of dark city streets and relentless rain, yet exudes an unexpected brightness and optimism. Hannah Peel and Steve Reich’s enchanting nocturnal rhythms intertwine with unsettling and introspective compositions by Lyra Pramuk and Julius Eastman. Peel’s Neon, inspired by the opulence and loneliness of bustling city life, incorporates electronic sounds and field recordings, transporting listeners to the vibrant scenes of Tokyo’s Shinjuku Station. This lighthearted music resonates with Reich’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Double Sextet, which concludes the album with a virtuosic race to the finish.
Another notable addition to Neon is Lyra Pramuk’s debut composition, Quanta, inspired by Carlo Rovelli’s mind-boggling quantum physics exploration, The Order of Time. Pramuk’s Quanta commences with the resonant tones of a massive grandfather clock, initially adhering to a regular rhythm before slowly transitioning into a more flexible meter. The music waxes and wanes, stutters, and ultimately comes to a halt, reflecting Pramuk’s belief that there is no universal perception of time. Each individual possesses a distinct sense of time’s influence on their lives.
Similarly, Julius Eastman’s Joy Boy captures an obsession with time. Instructing performers to create “ticker tape music,” Eastman’s composition harkens back to an era before the digital revolution, when spools of tape were used to transmit messages across vast distances. This fascination with time enhances the thematic exploration found throughout Neon.
With Neon, Manchester Collective delivers an enchanting juxtaposition of darkness and light, capturing the essence of nocturnal cityscapes through captivating musicality. The inclusion of works by artists like Hannah Peel, Steve Reich, Lyra Pramuk, and Julius Eastman ensures a diverse and compelling listening experience for those seeking a musical journey into the tantalizing world of the night.
