Exposé Online banner

Exposé Online

Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
Covering music from the fringes since 1993.

Reviews

Daniel Crommie — Februa
(Bandcamp no#, 2026, DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2026-06-07

Februa Cover art

Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Daniel Crommie has spent the last 35 years as a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist (mandolins, dulcimer, balalaika, recorders, flutes, synthesizers, etc.), and producer (Janie Mitchell, Kaitlyn ni Donovan, Lew Jones, Karen Searcy) with well over three dozen solo albums and numerous albums with Group du Jour, Echo System, Saturnalia Trio, and the DC Sound Collective. However his latest album Februa is my first introduction to his music, so I have no idea if it's typical or atypical of his output. Februa is a set of fifteen instrumentals that are a mixture of electronics and acoustic wind instruments that make for a very pleasant musical journey.  On the album, Daniel plays concert, alto and piccolo flutes; synthesizers and sequencers; electric dulcimer; theremini; alto recorder; garkleinfloten (a tiny Renaissance flute); and percussion devices. Daniel is also joined by Colin Henson (electric guitar on “Trajectory 7”), Leslie Gray (electric violin on “Housefly Suite” and “A Paradox in Paradise”), Eldon Hardenbrook (bass on “Echo Zulu”), and Dave Thatcher (additional percussion on “Echo Zulu”). The opening track “Housefly Suite” is a dynamic multi-part suite that goes from an annoying buzzy housefly to calm floating electronics with Daniel on flute. There is some sense of older New Age music peaking through the tracks from time to time. One track that stands out for me is “Last Night Next Summer” with some drones, possibly some Tibetan bells, electronics, and flute that builds to a tasty lead guitar riff and ends with more flute. Another is the album closer “Vault Eleven” with its rapid arpeggiator, tons of flute playing, and percussive orchestral hits. Overall Februa is a dreamy, occasionally energetic, and alternately dark musical suite.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): Daniel Crommie

More info
http://danielcrommie.bandcamp.com/album/februa

 

What's new

These are the most recent changes made to artists, releases, and articles.