James Moore: Desolation Pops
Liner Notes   Cat. No. 80839     Release Date: 2023-04-21

Nathan Koci, accordion (with voices); Claire Happel Ashe, triple harp; Kathleen Supové, piano; The Rhythm Method: Leah Asher & Marina Kifferstein, violins; Carrie Frey, viola; Meaghan Burke, cello

James Moore (b. 1979) is a composer with an eye toward the world of games and experimental theater. He’s an electric guitarist who’s willing and eager to treat his instrument as a playground, not a reverent, static tradition. He’s a tinkerer, a charmer, and a fella who’s always up for another round at the bar of wacky ideas and intellectual questioning. He’s excited for new and unexpected opportunities for collaboration, but always maintains a voice that seems to stay recognizably his own throughout the myriad projects he takes on as his life’s work. The beautiful pieces on this album —Lowlands (2017) for accordion and voices; Clair-Obscur (2018) for triple harp; Desolation Pops (2016–18) for piano and string quartet — reflect those playful and curious penchants of this music-maker extraordinaire. You’ll hear comforting clarity, choreographed awkwardness, sudden synchronies, and inexplicable noises on this record. Put on your coziest vintage sweater, grab a classy cocktail in a quirky heirloom glass and get ready to give your ears a treat as you tour the stringed and unstringed sounds of Desolation Pops. — Lainie Fefferman (from the liner notes)

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An excellent album from a great contemporary music label. —The Wire

James Moore seems to be a great exemplar of the “creative musician” that is reestablishing connection with audiences through the courage of both interpretation and imagination. —Fanfare

James Moore

James Moore: Desolation Pops

MP3/320 $9.99
FLAC $9.99
WAV $9.99
CD $15.99

Track Listing

Lowlands
James Moore
Buy
Clair-Obscur: I. Cecilia
James Moore
Buy
Clair-Obscur: II. Minerva
James Moore
Buy
Clair-Obscur: III. Cleopatra
James Moore
Buy
Desolation Pops: I. The Smiling Fish
James Moore
Buy
Desolation Pops: II. All the Insects Ceased
James Moore
Buy
Desolation Pops: III. A Hoop for the Lowly
James Moore
Buy
Desolation Pops: IV. Little Teeth
James Moore
Buy
Desolation Pops: V. M' Ugly Spine
James Moore
Buy
Desolation Pops: VI. Far from Bhudda
James Moore
Buy
Desolation Pops: VII. Misurgirafical & Plomlied
James Moore
Buy
Desolation Pops: VIII. Empty Space Blue
James Moore
Buy