Angsudden Song Cycle (feat. Kyoko Kitamura, Sara Schoenbeck, Khabu Doug Young, Sean Moran, Jason Kao Hwang, Dan Fabricatore & Harris Eisenstadt)

The New York City–area clarinetist/composer Mike McGinnis once recorded an album of solo performances in a subway station. Angsudden Song Cycle is more global in nature (and recorded in a studio). Part of the inspiration here is the Swedish archipelago of Angsudden, which juts into the Baltic Sea; another major influence is a series of poems written (and illustrated) in the nearly extinct Philippine language of Tagalog by artist MuKha. The poems were translated into Swedish and English here and sung by the clear-voiced Kyoko Kitamura and accompanied by solo, trio, and chamber groups. McGinnis’ arrangements move from folk melodies to icy textures to sweeping rushes of sound. Touchstones for some here might be Laurie Anderson's heightened narratives, paired with the outer reaches of Kronos Quartet. It’s a lot to digest from these emerging artists, but there's a sure compositional hand at work with “Last Night the Wind” seducing the listener before quietly ebbing and the samba “You Are Morning” adding a sunny respite. It's high-concept to be sure, yet deep listening is rewarded.