YMUSIC (CD)

For 15 years, yMusic has developed a reputation as in-demand collaborators with artists ranging from Paul Simon to Caroline Shaw. Now, the genre-fluid chamber group has stepped out as creators in their own right with a self-composed album. The widely influential ensemble has crafted 9 engaging pieces, creating a textured instrumental album that is a vehicle for their renowned virtuosity as well as their exquisite taste.

yMusic has always been innovative their eye-popping list of collaborators speaks for itself. And yet, this new self-titled album, YMUSIC, is the first time they have braved the spotlight alone, with no composer, no songwriter, no external creative support.

The urge to write came after spending a significant amount of time on tour performing off the page memorizing, re-writing, and sometimes creating arrangements on-the-fly, says yMusic violinist Rob Moose.

During these concert tours, we started working out little ideas together backstage, right before concerts, or in an idle moment of rehearsal. We immediately realized this group was meant to work this way! As six finely-tuned and opinionated musicians, we have literally been training for this our whole lives.

There is a lot to appreciate on YMUSIC from the wild intensity of Flood to the noir introspection of Peter Inn, the bands atmospheric vignettes transport the listener. Yet, its in some of the more complex tracks, Three Elephants, Zebras, The Wolf, that we really see these six artists flex their compositional muscles, delivering intricate pieces that are a joy to listen to.

In short, YMUSIC the album stands on its own two feet, finally laying bare the creativity and craft that has always made yMusic the ensemble great.

1. Baragon 2. Zebras 3. Peter Inn 4. The Wolf 5. Flood 6. Sober Miles 7. Three Elephants 8. Whosay 9. Cloud

• Format Detail: CD Digipack
• Format: CD
• Genre: Classical