La Lechuza

cd comes in a custom gatefold jacket printed on reverse 100% recycled orford paperboard in full colour. esmerine enters its second decade with an expanded line-up and a new album - the band's first in six years. the band were co-founded ten years ago by percussionist bruce cawdron (godspeed you! black emperor) and cellist beckie foon (thee silver mt zion). while esmerine has always forged instrumental songs of high emotive and narrative power, on 'la lechuza' there is truly a spirit at work, and the group has succeeded in making an album that is both a eulogy to lhasa and testament to the newfound creative relationships the she helped bring forth. as with previous esmerine albums, 'la lechuza' comprises predominantly instrumental music; the conjunction of cawdron's mallet playing (marimbas, glockenspiels) and foon's lyrical cello lines continues to anchor much of the record. page's harp works in lovely counterpoint to the rhythmic and melodic patterns of the mallet instruments, and at times establishes the song foundation in its own right, most notably on 'last waltz', where sarah also sings. andrew barr's additional percussion work and sensibility allowed the group to record more of the album live, in real time and with renewed fluidity. stunning instrumental opener 'a dog river' includes guest playing by colin stetson and sarah neufeld (arcade fire, belle orchestre), who also contribute to 'little streams make big rivers' on side 2.