Recent instrumental music that seemed worth highlighting. I’ve been getting into the habit of sharing sporadic soundtracks on Threads, and figured it’d be an idea to start compiling them here, too.

Tuulikki Bartosik – Playscapes (2023)

Neo-classical accordion with harmonium, omnichord, and zither. More than a gimmick, the unconventional instrumentation gives this one a real sense of warmth. A very engaging combination of style & timbre, somewhere between Nils Frahm, Terry Riley, and Penguin Cafe.

Frank Horvat – A Village of Landscapes (2023)

A song cycle for bassoon (with piano, synths, and solo) inspired by Canada’s landscape, performed by Sebastien Malette and Allison Wiebe. I’m a sucker for music inspired by natural spaces, and these compositions have a very appropriate mix of tranquility, grandeur, darkness, and beauty. Bassoon isn’t what I’ve typically thought of as a feature instrument, but there’s no denying its versatility.

Felbm – Cycli Infini (2023)

Kicking myself for not including this low-key masterpiece on my year end list. Blame the format—a single 40-minute track is harder to fit into my normal listening habits—not any lack in the composition. A single bedroom jazz journey built from tape loops large and small, softly spiraling into infinity, each moment complete in itself and also subsumed in those around it.

Fabiano do Nascimento & Sam Gendel – The Room (2024)

An album of captivating duets—do Nascimento on seven-string guitar and Gendel on soprano sax—up there with the best of Brazillian jazz. The musicianship is stellar but never loses sight of melody and mood. Released less than a month into 2024, and setting a very high bar for the rest of the year to meet.