Olivia Block
Heave To
Sedimental 2006

01. Heave To, Part 1
02. Heave To, Part 2
03. Make the Land

Olivia Block's "Heave To" is her fourth full release under her own name and marks both a new maturity in her compositional prowess and also a new confidence. "Heave To", a composition in three movements, is an investigation into the deep structures of maelstroms. A roiling mixture of crashing waves and wind, jagged strings, clanging metal, complex electronic textures, and clusters of chamber instruments. In our opinion this is her strongest work since her debut, "Pure Gaze". -Sedimental

Possible companion to Xela's Dead Sea, from an American female composer's perspective. Not for all times or all places (please skip post if you are looking for real rhythm/melody), but I've got a secret, shady place in my mind for this record, and it feels just right there. Dense, cerebral, unsettling - never letting up, nor failing to hold your attention, though it may prove a bit exhausting to the untrained ear. Cello, trumpet, oboe, percussion, violin, trombone, clarinet, bass trombone, viola, bass clarinet. Seekers of digital/analog, generated/organic: recomendabilissimo!

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