Nico Muhly - Mothertongue

Nico Muhly
Mothertongue
(05.2008, Brassland Records)
Verdict = Avant Garde composition that hits, wavers and then hits again

Nico Muhly’s follow up to his stunning solo debut Speaks Volumes, which came out last year, is simultaneously incredible and bewildering. To be honest, it took me a good long time to digest and weed through this record. Unlike Speaks Volumes’ individually composed tracks, Mothertongue is made up of three separate suites constituted by ten tracks and is intensely conceptual. Throughout the first suite of music a chorus of vocals is manipulated and fluttered about like a swarm of electronic hummingbirds. While the initial affect is jarring, repeated listens reveals this suite (of which the album is named) to be the most vibrantly successful of the three in the midst of its harrowing vocal experiments. The following movement entitled “Wonders” doesn’t fare so well in the face of repeated listens (though there are definitely portions worth repeating). This is perhaps more a reaction to the medieval style crooning than to the composition itself, but it is enough to dampen the piece as a whole. Fortunately, the final portion of the album (“The Only Tune”) gathers its vocal inflections from the distinctive folk rumblings of Bedroom Community labelmate, Samamidon, who along with Muhly, lets the album down gently, assisting in disentangling any muscular knots created in the Mothertongue’s first two parts. While overall the album is positive and Muhly is to be commended for his focused efforts on incorporating vocals more fluidly into his compositions, Mothertongue finds its place more as an artistic stepping stone than a revelatory destination. Fortunately for us a stepping stones for Muhly is a lifetime album for most. I’ll probably regret even that resolution because as I listen to it again and again those minor frailties seem to be continually fading; its certainly worth a few listens at the very least.

-Mr. Thistle

Nico Muhly on MySpace

Nico Muhly - Speaks Volumes

Nico Muhly
Speaks Volumes
(01.2007, Bedroom Community)
8.5/10.0

Nico Muhly's debut full length contains compositional amblings through various themes and motifs. Hinting at Steve Reich, what Muhly has done here is make an orchestral album with muscle. While much of the modern classical landscape of contemporaries like Max Richter and Johann Johannsson are filled with minor-chord sob compositions, Muhly has created a flexible and organic suite of music that is a breath of fresh air amongst the stagnating frost. Muhly isn’t new to the indie music world having previously worked with Philip Glass, Bjork and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. With a pedigree of top notch production credits to his name it’s no wonder that Speaks Volumes is masterfully recorded. Crisp and resonating, Muhly has crafted an effort that is equally playful, adventurous and emotional rich. The pieces swerve from eternally building string efforts of "It Goes Without Saying" to the contemplative piano of "Quite Music" to the robust frolicking arrangements of "Pillaging Music" and back again. Speaks Volumes ends with the intensely beautiful "Keep In Touch," bearing vocal instrumentation from Antony (of Antony and the Johnsons) and cementing Muhly’s efforts as one of the most realized of the year. For the most profound effect; Speaks Volumes should be played on earmuff sized headphones and allowed to completely consume your attention. One of the most stunningly gorgeous and ambiguously narrative musical experiences I’ve heard in a long time.

-Mr. Thistle

Nico Muhly's website