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Immensity Crumb — Chamber Music for Sleeping Giants
(Bandcamp no#, 2026, DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2026-02-26

Chamber Music for Sleeping Giants Cover art

It’s been quite a few years since the joyful burst of creativity that was Immensity Crumb Sings 9 Wedding Favorites, but Chamber Music for Sleeping Giants shows that they’ve been far from idle. The core of the group is the duo of Jennifer and Brenden Smith, and for the credits they are simply listed as having written and performed the music; they’re joined by a string quartet and oboe, justifying the album’s title. There are obviously guitars in the mix, mostly acoustic and occasionally electric, along with accents from celeste or glockenspiel and percussion. From seeing them play live, I know that Jenn is an outstanding violinist and Brenden plays guitars and viola — certainly strings are the dominant factor in their music. The string quartet arrangements flow seamlessly from folksy and romantic to edgy and brash, incorporating styles and techniques ranging from the last couple of centuries, providing the perfect accompaniment for the Smiths’ supremely creative compositions. The lyrics are full of evocative imagery and emotion without being direct or easily decipherable. As I’m rapidly running out of superlatives, I’ll just call out the guitar playing and the vocals as well, both of which are flawless. Chamber Music for Sleeping Giants is so full of unpredictable joys that I can’t single out any tracks. It’s clearly one of the year’s best releases in any genre, and while I’m listening to it, I’m inclined to put it among the decade’s best. If anyone ever tells you that there’s no more original music in the world, point them towards Immensity Crumb.

Filed under: New releases, 2026 releases

Related artist(s): Immensity Crumb

More info
http://immensitycrumb.bandcamp.com/album/chamber-music-for-sleeping-giants-2

 

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