(((O))) : Sarah Neufld, Richard Reed Parry, Rebecca Foon – First Sounds

Maybe the names of Sarah Neufeld, Richard Reed Parry, and Rebecca Foon might not light any memories at first, but this trio of experimentalists might strike a note among those listeners, and there are probably a few of those familiar with Arcade Fire and Belle Orchestre, Esmerine, Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra, Set Fire To Flames and more. Neufeld and Perry played with Arcade Fire, and Foon was involved with all the latter.

Actually, the trio originally met in the late 1990s, only to start working on a joint project during the pandemic, the result being First Sounds, their first release together.

Looking at all the band names they were involved in, gives a solid indication of the music presented on the album – a set of complex, fully-developed compositions, intertwined with improvisations for string instruments.

It is post-modern classical music that those listeners who shy away from the genre can also relate to, as the trio exhibits all their musical knowledge and inventiveness, which creates a sense of synergy, giving their music here an ebb and flow, without musical excesses or any of the players suffocating the other two.

From the more experimental ‘Slow New Year’ to the melodically flowing ‘Maria’ the trio creates music that has both sense and purpose.