{"product_id":"john-mccowen-pressure-chords","title":"John McCowen - Pressure Chords","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePressure Chords\u003c\/em\u003e is the first joint album by composer-performer \u003cstrong\u003eJohn McCowen\u003c\/strong\u003e, trombonist \u003cstrong\u003eWeston Olencki\u003c\/strong\u003e and cellist \u003cstrong\u003eLucy Railton\u003c\/strong\u003e. McCowen’s composition is based on the spectral analysis of contrabass clarinet multiphonics, and the tuning system corresponds with the overtone spectrum of McCowen’s instrument. The trio adaptation of \u003cem\u003ePressure Chords\u003c\/em\u003e presents itself as an exercise in both patience and intensity, slowly building towards an expressive finale. Across its 34-minute runtime, restrained minimalism slowly gives way to maximally affective sonic force.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMcCowen, Olencki and Railton first shared the stage for an improvised session at Berlin’s KM28. McCowen realised that he found two capable partners for creating orchestrations of his works for the contrabass clarinet. Olencki, who also contributes field recordings to the album, has worked across different genres and traditions, while Railton has made a name for herself as a composer and improviser as well as a performer of Just Intonation music. Weston and Lucy both have immense experience performing and composing music outside of equal temperament, so it seemed like a perfect situation, McCowen says. The trio first presented \u003cem\u003ePressure Chords\u003c\/em\u003e live at Berlin’s Morphine Raum in 2023 before recording a studio version with \u003cstrong\u003eAdam Asnan\u003c\/strong\u003e in the following year. The recording—mixed and mastered by \u003cstrong\u003eAlbert Finnbogasson\u003c\/strong\u003e in Reykjavík—elegantly captures the multi-layered tonal and sonic qualities that the musicians so carefully explore. As a result, their performance doesn’t so much invite but necessitate deep listening—time passes differently on and with \u003cem\u003ePressure Chords\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HALLOW GROUND","offers":[{"title":"Vinyl LP","offer_id":58817363411289,"sku":"SDZ-50183","price":27.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0588\/3455\/0945\/files\/CAR_20260810_1215_114333_288_p_John_McCowen_-_Pressure_Chords_HG2604_Cover_2000px_72dpi_16_015.jpg?v=1786441330","url":"https:\/\/spindizzyrecords.com\/products\/john-mccowen-pressure-chords","provider":"Spindizzy Dublin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}