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The Canadian instrumental wonder, Jessica Moss, strikes again in “Unfolding” – her profound sixth solo album. Achieving notable success as a violinist in the celebrated post-rock entity, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, since its inception in 2001, and co-establishing the distinguished Black Ox Orkestar, Moss’s reputation in the music world holds great weight. Yet, it seems her solo ventures since 2015 have carried a distinctive mood, a kind of intimate meditative melody that spawns from a unique mix of live improvisation, deep listening and the conviction that live concerts offer an opportune space for shared contemplative experiences.
Moss’s “Unfolding,” released under the label Constellation in October 2025, embodies an in-depth exploration of ambient longform structure. It veers subtly from the leisurely to the powerful, from identifiable melodies to abstract experimental sounds. Its creation was driven by alterations of equipment designed initially for the electric guitarist. Moss cleverly turns these instrumental limitations into a toolkit for weaving sonic landscapes on stage. No pre-programmed sequences nor computers – an organic orchestration of bells, voice, violin, and effect pedals mare the heart of this dynamic display of instrumental artistry.
From the late 90s, and for two years Moss was part of Montreal’s alternative rock band Fidget, before regularly playing in local Arabic and Balkan music ensembles. She was not only a performer; she was a devout artist who lent her touch to a diverse array of creative projects, often of the interdisciplinary kind. Her background in visual artistry leant a uniqueness to her musical creations. Her artistic prowess wasn’t merely musical; she also crafted illuminated boxes, wristbands, metal flowers, figurines, and tailored soundtracks for film. It is indeed a phenomenon how all her artistic insights are intricately interwoven in her musical work, most notably the 2025 album “Unfolding.”
Development of “Unfolding” was spread over numerous years of touring. The iterable motif of repetition and dissonance is intelligibly utilized, not as ultimate objectives but tools for her evolving sonic strategy. Moss’s masterpiece concludes with a choral composition themed around the central phrase, “none are free until all are free.” It is of no surprise that versions for both trained singers and community voices have been contemplated. The piece holds a potential for multiple future interpretations and performances, adding to the participatory fervor during her scheduled European tour.
Moss’s work continually underscores the communal aspect of music – a space for shared experiences, for collective memory, listening in shared silences, for unfolding grief, for transformation and care. A clear testament to this was her work “Unfolding,” a heart-wrenching reaction to the second year of the genocidal violence in Palestine. Moss calls it, “a portal to collective mourning” – a indeed a daring attempt to use music as an outlet for shared human despair. Various musical influences such as industrial music, metal, and classical minimalism are infused, creating an atmosphere tensely fraught, lined by the percussive brilliance of the Necks drummer, Tony Buck and the productive insight of Jerusalem In My Heart’s Radwan Ghazi Moumneh. These collaborations amplify the ambient intensity intended by Moss, seamlessly tying the contemplative narrative of the “Unfolding”.
Throughout her illustrative career, Moss has indeed unfolded various musical paradigms. She has shared stages and creative spaces with esteemed artists like Feist, Matana Roberts, Patti Smith and Jim White, broadening her musical horizon. Her collaborative explorations with the Novarumori Ensemble, under composer Isak Goldschneider, have further evolved her solo works. An anticipated joint tour with the legendary Swans is set to culminate 2025, where Jessica Moss will present her uniquely immersive sonic experience across multiple major venues in 11 countries. The year 2025 beckons as another prolific chapter in Jessica Moss’s illustrious musical journey.
