Sam Prekop
Sam Prekop

A velvety jazz of pastel colors and written with the tip of a pencil, this one by Sam Prekop released in 1999 for Thrill Jockey. Delicate and refined sketches, completely acoustic (apart from a few imperceptible electronic loops here and there, making the album contemporary and fascinating - see track 6 "Faces and People"), with interweaving guitars, percussion, and double bass, softly sung by the whispered and impalpable voice of Sam Prekop. Sure, in production, there's that madman Jim O'Rourke who amazes us once again by producing an almost "classic" and not eccentric album, indeed "not at all eccentric," once again confounding those who saw him pigeonholed as a guru and factotum in the post-rock area from which he originates.

The songs are light, made of voids and light presences, small interweavings and guitar riffs, with great bass work and almost imperceptible and alternating additions of viola, violins, keyboards, pianos, and trumpets, almost to emphasize the discretion and the extreme class in playing the pieces without virtuosity, to prove nothing to anyone. An atmospheric album (for those who haven't understood) to be enjoyed in front of the fireplace (for those who have it...) in these days of rain and wind. Tender, romantic but very refined in compositions and magical moments it manages to convey, without ever going off-key, without ever a drop in style but always keeping the attention, care, and great class you can feel in every track high. Sure, it's an intimate and crepuscular album that offers nothing to carefreeness and disengagement and stays clear of catchy choruses and avoids usual chords (minor and semi-tones are abundant, just to get technical...).

An album, in my opinion, extremely enjoyable and although it's not an absolute masterpiece (fortunately, there are many other works that recall this mood), it is listened to with extreme pleasure, making us discover nuances and passages each time not noticed the time before. To always carry along for romantic evenings (a happy ending is assured unless you are in the company of young metalheads, masiniane/sorcine or I sayUnzUnzUnzdancer!!).