Description
#elorisaxl #vinyl #vinylrecords
Elori Saxl, the innovative Brooklyn-based composer and filmmaker, returns with her second album, Drifts and Surfaces, released under Western Vinyl. This ambitious project is a three-part exploration of the delicate balance between transience and stillness in the modern world. Through a fusion of chamber music, analog synths, and digital experimentation, Saxl masterfully captures the emotional depth found in the smallest moments of daily life, creating a soundscape that resonates with the complexities of living in the 21st century.
Drifts and Surfaces reflects a continuation and expansion of the themes Saxl explored in her acclaimed 2021 album, The Blue of Distance. While her previous work was heavily influenced by natural recordings from places like the Adirondacks and Lake Superior, this new album draws primarily from live percussion and other instrumental sources. The project began in 2018 in Brooklyn’s Red Hook, where Saxl collaborated with the percussion trio Tigue. Over the years, as the world changed and evolved, so did the album, culminating in a piece that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.
The title piece, “Drifts,” finds its inspiration in Kate Zambreno’s novel of the same name, drawing a parallel between the mundane and the extraordinary. Saxl’s approach aligns with the feminist narrative that elevates the often overlooked, invisible labor of women. This track, along with others on the album, emphasizes the significance of small, seemingly insignificant actions, celebrating the beauty and importance of the everyday.
The album’s final piece, “Surfaces,” commissioned by the Guggenheim Museum, ties together the overarching theme of connectedness. Drawing inspiration from the works of painter Alex Katz, Saxl delves into the concept of perception and the subtle shifts that come not from the objects themselves but from our evolving perspectives. As she reflects on the interconnectedness of the artist community, Saxl suggests that her work is not solely her own but a part of a larger, interwoven artistic legacy. Through Drifts and Surfaces, Saxl invites listeners to ponder their place within this collective and to find meaning in the quiet, unnoticed moments of life.
