MEREDITH MONK : Impermanence (2008) APE (image+.cue), lossless

In her album Impermanence, Meredith Monk succeeds in creating pieces that fit her theme well and much of this music does indeed seem ephemeral, fleeting. These works are not casually or routinely constructed, though; their apparent simplicity masks a psychological and musical sophistication that's evident in the way their carefully placed details contribute to their surprising impact. The prevailing mood of the album is melancholy, but not passive sadness; even the songs that deal most explicitly with loss, such as Last Song (which opens the album) and Liminal, are punctuated with astonishing, defiant gestural outbursts that make it clear that Monk has no intention of going gentle into that good night. One of the strengths of the album is the variety of its pieces; Monk is never repeating herself or just recycling ideas. Pieces such as Particular Dance, for voices and mixed ensemble, are lively and full of unpredictable humor, and Maybe 1, for eight pianos, is a quirky, minimalist-inspired bagatelle. The textural variety of the pieces is also appealing; almost all of them use voices in one way or another, but the voice is often used instrumentally or as accompaniment to the instruments. Monk and her ensemble perform with great delicacy and sensitivity to each other; this is clearly a group of singers and instrumentalists that knows how to listen, and each member is constantly calibrating his or her contribution with the sounds of the others, as in the best chamber music performances. ECM's sound is immaculate. The album is a significant addition to Monk's discography and should be of strong interest to fans of new vocal music that pushes the envelope but is still accessible and engaging. by Stephen Eddins  
Tracklist :
1    Last Song 7'16
Voice, Piano – Meredith Monk
2    Maybe 1 2'03
Piano – Allison Sniffin, Bohdan Hilash, Ching Gonzalez, Ellen Fisher, John Hollenbeck, Katie Geissinger, Meredith Monk, Theo Bleckmann
3    Little Breath 1'43
Bass Clarinet – Bohdan Hilash
Bells [Elephant Bells] – John Hollenbeck
Voice – Allison Sniffin, Katie Geissinger, Meredith Monk, Theo Bleckmann
4    Liminal 10'56
Clarinet [B♭ Clarinet], Clarinet [A Clarinet], Bass Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone [Aulos] – Bohdan Hilash
Marimba, Vibraphone, Percussion, Bass Drum – John Hollenbeck
Piano, Violin – Allison Sniffin
Voice – Allison Sniffin, Katie Geissinger, Meredith Monk, Theo Bleckmann
5    Disequilibrium 2'26
Performer [Bicycle Wheel] – John Hollenbeck
Voice – Allison Sniffin, Ellen Fisher, Katie Geissinger, Meredith Monk, Silvie Jensen, Theo Bleckmann
6    Particular Dance 4'57
Ocarina [Double Ocarina], Flute [Balinese Flute], Reeds [Zaphoon], Performer [Punji] – Bohdan Hilash
Percussion [Metal And Wood Percussion], Cymbal, Bass Drum, Angklung [Anklung] – John Hollenbeck
Piano – Allison Sniffin
Voice – Ching Gonzalez, Ellen Fisher, Katie Geissinger, Meredith Monk, Sasha Bogdanowitsch, Silvie Jensen, Theo Bleckmann
7    Between Song 6'08
Bells [Chinese Temple Bells], Vibraphone – John Hollenbeck
Clarinet [B♭ Clarinet], Bass Clarinet – Bohdan Hilash
Piano – Allison Sniffin
Voice – Allison Sniffin, Katie Geissinger, Meredith Monk
8    Passage 1'55
Voice – Allison Sniffin, Ching Gonzalez, Ellen Fisher, Katie Geissinger, Sasha Bogdanowitsch, Silvie Jensen, Theo Bleckmann
9    Maybe 2 3'07
Bass Clarinet – Bohdan Hilash
Bass Drum – John Hollenbeck
Voice – Allison Sniffin, Ching Gonzalez, Ellen Fisher, Katie Geissinger, Meredith Monk, Theo Bleckmann
10    Skeleton Lines 4'19
Clarinet [B♭ Clarinet] – Bohdan Hilash
Marimba, Vibraphone, Percussion [Wooden Clackers] – John Hollenbeck
Piano – Allison Sniffin, Theo Bleckmann
Voice, Piano – Meredith Monk
11    Slow Dissolve 2'35
Bass Clarinet – Bohdan Hilash
Glockenspiel – John Hollenbeck
Violin – Allison Sniffin
Voice – The Ensemble
12    Totentanz 3'59
Clarinet [B♭ Clarinet], Bass Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone – Bohdan Hilash
Marimba, Vibraphone, Bass Drum, Percussion [Paddle Drums] – John Hollenbeck
Piano, Violin – Allison Sniffin
Voice – Meredith Monk, Theo Bleckmann
13    Sweep 1 1'28
Percussion [Paddle Drums] – John Hollenbeck
14    Rocking 5'17
Bass Clarinet – Bohdan Hilash
Marimba, Vibraphone – John Hollenbeck
Voice – The Ensemble
15    Sweep 2 1'24
Percussion [Ocean Drum] – Bohdan Hilash
Percussion, Bells [Chinese Temple Bells], Performer [Magnets] – John Hollenbeck
Voice – Allison Sniffin
16    Mieke's Melody #5 5'15
Piano – Allison Sniffin
Vibraphone – John Hollenbeck
Voice – The Ensemble

Ensemble – Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble
Percussion – John Hollenbeck
Piano, Violin – Allison Sniffin
Producer – Manfred Eicher
Voice – Allison Sniffin, Ching Gonzalez, Ellen Fisher, Katie Geissinger, Meredith Monk, Sasha Bogdanowitsch, Silvie Jensen, Theo Bleckmann
Woodwind [Woodwinds] – Bohdan Hilash