Sinibaldi, Greg: Ariel

Greg Sinibaldi is a Seattle based saxophonist and woodwind specialist who released his first album in 2013 titled Ascendant pairing with clarinetist Jesse Canterbury. Sinibaldi is back with his sophomore effort Ariel. On the album Sinibaldi (ewi, electronics) works with Ted Poor (drums) and Ryan Ferriera (guitar).

On Ariel Sinibaldi uses the ewi (electronic wind instrument), a computer controlled synthesizer invented in the ‘70s, to get the most out of his exploration of American poet Sylvia Plath. The album is loosely based on the poet’s book titled Ariel which was written just before she passed away in 1965. According to the press release her poetry “contains some of the most chillingly evocative and memorable language one can imagine.� Sinibaldi’s interpretations have more to do with thoughts and feelings then with a direct interpretation of her work. To get those feelings of dark despair and innermost desperation Sinibaldi uses the ewi to great effect. Everything from sweeping electronic effects to grand washes of sound, the ewi sounds really cool. Add to that the excellent drumming of Poor and Ferriera’s sometimes heavy guitar textures and you get quite an emotive experimental work.

The first track “Arrival of the Bee Box� begins with calming waves of shimmering electronic effects, defining a very experimental approach. After a while doomy guitar riffs and heavy swaths of electronics ramp up the intensity before a pastoral mood ends the track in a soothing expanse of sound. “Lady Lazarus� is quite lush and haunting with an ambient electronic feel before the heavier “Cut� unfolds with chopped up guitar patterns, busy drum work and heavier electronics. Those into experimental/avant-garde should appreciate this track. “Lady Lazarus Part II� is another highly experimental tune that many will find challenging to say the least. I did find this one to be a difficult listen. The slow, heavy riffs return in the dark and doomy “Black Sweet Blood Mouthfuls�, another pretty cool track. The rest of the album will take you on similar excursions in the electronic/avant-garde realm.

Ariel will certainly appeal to the more adventurous music fan. If that’s you click on the link below to learn more about Sinibaldi and his music.

Track Listing:
1. Arrival of the Bee Box (10:42)
2. Lady Lazarus (4:01)
3. Cut (4:36)
4. Lady Lazarus Part II (11:26)
5. Black Sweet Blood Mouthfuls (7:23)
6. The Atrocity of Sunsets (6:15)
7. Wintering in the Dark (7:44)
8. Elm (5:39)

Added: May 7th 2018
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 1038
Language: english

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