Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society

The Profile

Joshua Abrams is an American musician and leader of Natural Information Society, known for playing bass and guimbri and for blending experimental, jazz and world-music influences.

From the review: Simultonality (Eremite Records) was recorded between Chicago and Montreal between 2014 and 2015 and produced by Joshua Abrams with Michael Ehlers. The Natural Information Society lineup on Simultonality includes Joshua Abrams (guimbri and bass), Lisa Alvarado (harmonium), Michael Avery (drums and percussion), Ben Boye (piano and Wurlitzer), Ari Brown (saxophone), Emmett Kelly (electric guitar) and Frank Rosaly (drums and percussion). Abrams has used a two-drummer approach on this album. The review references Abrams's 2015 release Magnetoception and notes collaborations/associations with Tortoise, Matana Roberts, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Joan of Arc, David Grubbs and Sam Prekop.

The DeBaser review praises Simultonality as a masterpiece blending African-derived guimbri, minimalism, progressive jazz and krautrock influences. It highlights long, hypnotic compositions, a two-drummer approach and links to Abrams's previous Magnetoception (2015). Recording took place between Chicago and Montreal and the record was produced by Joshua Abrams with Michael Ehlers. The reviewer places the work among essential recent experimental music releases.