Flotation Device surveys new albums by Fred Frith, William Parker, Nakama, Horse Lords and the Art Ensemble of Chicago’s two surviving originators (who lead an ensemble that includes Moor Mother and Tomeka Reid). Alongside those standouts are three generations of electronic musicians: Sun Ra in his only recorded outing with a Prophet synthesizer, KMRU’s with his latest post-Kenyan ambient reflections, and François Bayle with an acousmatic adaptation of Dante’s Divine Comedy that's celebrating its 50th birthday. Also having its golden anniversary is George Crumb’s landmark work Makrokosmos I, which we revisit via an under-heralded recording by Bojan Gorišek. A miniature from organist Thomas Lacôte (Messiaen’s successor at Sainte-Trinité) and Germanic reflections on modernism and minimalism by Arnulf Herrmann and the late Heinz Winbeck round out the program. Creative and improvised music from the Northwest and around the world with host Michael Schell.
