Reimagining the Accessibility of Classical Music: JFund Awardee JP Merz

Reimagining the Accessibility of Classical Music: JFund Awardee JP Merz

Merz has set himself apart as a composer through his willingness to deemphasize his own talents in favor of accessibility. “Virtuosity is tied up with the classical tradition, and I’m looking for ways to subvert that. I’d rather get the emotion out of the technique rather than show off the technique.” Instead of championing his own specific narrative, he’s creating pieces that further the classical and electronic music traditions without having to lean on their complexity. As with the inclusivity of Mediated Intimacy, Merz is extending his arms outward toward lovers of art instead of drawing boundaries between them.

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Gregg Kowalsky presents an ambient antidote to modern life on L'Orange L'Orange

Gregg Kowalsky presents an ambient antidote to modern life on L'Orange L'Orange

The seven tracks on L’Orange L’Orange are anything but human sounding. They take their cues from places where the dramatic mind can’t go. Need to take the edge off at the end of your day? Gregg Kowalsky is a fine replacement for a tumbler of bourbon.

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Esmerine are impossibly heavy and pretty as they cast 2017 in a dramatic post-rock haze on Mechanics of Dominion

Esmerine are impossibly heavy and pretty as they cast 2017 in a dramatic post-rock haze on Mechanics of Dominion

No matter how mathematically and compositionally sound the record is, it’s still impossibly heavy and pretty, casting its drama in a thick haze of intermittent drums, neo-classical geekdom, and various other idioms of post rock. Mechanics of Dominion is too heady for its own good, but still holds ground as a wonderful combination of influences and post-genre style. It takes time for it to reveal itself, and it’s usually worth the investment.

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Chad VanGaalen pulls off another wonderfully bizarre set of songs on sixth album Light Information

Chad VanGaalen pulls off another wonderfully bizarre set of songs on sixth album Light Information

Light Information is much more direct and less impressionistic than what we’ve heard before, and the rabbit hole of ideas isn’t as deep. However, Chad has certainly retained his sense of humor: “Should I take the advice of the graffiti on the wall telling me to go suck it?” he asks on “Broken Bell”, almost giving in to defeatism. But, Chad has a wife, daughters, and way too much ingenuity to acquiesce to anyone else’s mantras. “Try to remember as much as I can/and try to keep faith in my fellow man”, he decides cheerfully on closer “Static Shape.”

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