Speech melody is the central theme in this edition of Flotation Device. We revisit its two foundational works—Steve Reich's Different Trains (1988) and Scott Johnson's John Somebody (recorded in 1986)—while also exploring new fixed-media music by Ni Zheng, composed music by Vito Palumbo, and improvised music by Barre Phillips and György Kurtág Jr. We also check out modern uses of ancient instruments in the form of Gordon Grdina’s oud and PoiL Ueda’s biwa. Hans Abrahamsen’s masterpiece Schnee has a new recording, which we sample along with the Zappa estate's new release of a previously-unheard version of his indeterminate big band composition Approximate. Our “50 years ago in the avant-garde” feature compares musical specimens by Miles Davis and Morton Feldman that materialized on the same day in January 1973 (no prizes for guessing which was louder). And we honor the 80th birthday of Barry Altschul with a combination of new and classic recordings featuring that eminent free drummer.
