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Deborah Martin & Jill Haley — Into the Quiet
(Spotted Peccary SPM-9066, 2023, CD / DL)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2023-06-27

Into the Quiet Cover art

The distance between ambient electronics and orchestral woodwinds in terms of technology is far, but they can work together exceedingly well, as synthesist Deborah Martin and double-reed player Jill Haley have proven once before with their 2021 release The Silence of Grace. Martin and Haley have done I t again, although this time, with the eight tracks on Into the Quiet, the focus seems to be more gentle, emotional, and introspective. And did I say irresistable? Many layers of synths weave a beautiful tapestry that oboes, english horns, concert flutes, and occasional percussion can all blossom within, a constant eddy of melodic currents that are at once gorgeous, peaceful, and serene, defining the title in a magical soundworld of untold beauty. Since the mid-90s Martin has released over a dozen recordings, mostly on Spotted Peccary, some solo, like Deep Roots Hidden Water and Eye of the Wizard, and others in collaboration with other like-minded travelers like Cheryl Gallagher, Erik Wøllo, Greg Klamt, Mark Rownd, and others. She is also one half of the group Desensitized with Dean De Benedictis. Over the same period, Haley has taken a slightly different path with her solo work as well as with her group One Alternative, most recently a series of recordings she has created in residences at the various National Parks in the US, most recently The Forests and Shores of Acadia. The compositions on Into the Quiet are fully collaborative, although it’s Martin who  is credited with the arrangements. At any moment listening to any of the eight pieces here, the listener may hear orchestral arrangements or electronics, but more likely the beautiful sound of both shimmering and flowing together effortlessly in contemplation. 

Filed under: New releases, 2023 releases

Related artist(s): Deborah Martin, Jill Haley

More info
http://ambientelectronic.bandcamp.com/album/into-the-quiet

 

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