Cologne-based composer and saxophonist Luise Volkmann presents The Tales We Inform along with her ensemble Été Giant, a venture that thrives on eclectic instrumentation and narrative depth. Throughout the album, a wide range of orchestration, vocals, and rhythms intertwine to create songs that transfer fluidly between introspective avant-garde folks and vibrant, textural experimentation. Contributions from vocalists Casey Moir and Laurin Oppermann, flautists Conni Trieder and Nicolas Schwabe, and drummer Max Santner, amongst others, add distinctive textures and dynamic interaction that enrich Volkmann’s meticulously crafted preparations.
Opening the album, “Amongst Oaks” unveils a state of nature-watching introspection, because the vocals describe “sitting right here half the day” and watching “how the shadows of the outdated oak develop longer.” A hypnotic drive follows, weaving wordless vocal tranquility and regular rhythms, after which into plucky guitars and caressing vocal harmonies. Flute, brass, and orchestral components linger enjoyably all through, because the vocals ponder with poetic intrigue “what’s going to occur once they catch me…” — whether or not it’s revenge, forgiveness, or an acceptance into “their ranks.” The natural instrumentation, flourishing vocals, and clever lyricism resemble a surrendering of kinds to nature, or at the very least an appreciation of it, while one contextualizes their existence within the shadow of an oak tree.
The title monitor then arises with chilling, clanging ardency — then falling into an orchestral frolicking, because the vocals return to yet one more state of contemplation: “I’ve been pondering, pondering these days.” Each vibrant woodwinds and bellowing brass coexist blissfully, whereas the lyricism references invisible threads connecting individuals, nature, and time. “Some threads are age-old / Pulling at decisions / Pulling on the fiber of who we’re,” a theatrical vocal solemnity unfurls into descending trumpet tones; it makes for an additional rousing success, and positively kickstarts the album with a really sturdy one-two punch.
An abundance of highlights proceed from there, additionally within the album’s longest monitor, the epic “Opus Fundgut.” A dizzying, textured immediacy arrives by way of orchestral swells, shifting sporadically between light folks intrigue and increasing unveilings of vocals that vary from haunting to soothing. Trickling acoustics complement a gentler vocal reprieve, whereas scribble-like results complement the bubbling pushes. A number of additions, from brass-y brightness to final-minute rhythmic vigor, show rousingly replay-inducing. It showcases the venture’s capacity to coexist seamlessly inside free-flowing experimentation, along with extra ethereal, grounded charmers like “Amongst Oaks.” Three-parter “Oper der Trampelpfade” can also be demonstrative of the venture’s dynamic attain, from the second part’s bustling vibrancy to the finale’s haunting foreboding.
One other standout comes by way of “Candy Music,” resembling an ode to nature and its vibrant, eclectic magnificence. Its music video captures as such too, depicting wildlife, lakes, and woodside pathways. An preliminary gentleness flows, as soothing brass heightens into an emotional vocal harmoniousness. The vocals and instrumentation mirror with highly effective vigor as aspirations “to jot down a candy music” to nature — each its simplicities and complexities — seem. A cathartic burst of orchestration arrives round mid-point, like a butterfly rising from a cocoon. The Tales We Inform is a gripping success from Luise Volkmann & Été Giant, a deeply immersive listening expertise filled with high quality musicianship and interesting soundscapes.
