Astral Plains Peace Flag Ensemble

• 1The Work02:57
• 2You Can't Pin Joy Like A Moth05:10
• 3Agnes Martin Dreams of Macklin03:38
• 4Shamble On04:48
• 5Waiting Is My Favourite Colour02:41
• 6Bluets03:04
• 7Natural Amble03:59
• 8Burner Phone03:04
• 9More Bill Joy Than John Wisdom04:08
• 10Love Notes (For Eli)01:19
• 11Too Beautiful For A Cubicle02:57
• 12Dark Matter, Light Humour05:11
• Total Runtime42:56

Info for Astral Plains

The group’s 2021 debut Noteland was described as “akin to getting stuck in a sensory deprivation tank with Keith Jarrett.” By contrast Astral Plains opens up, offering spacious and blue-sky arrangements and production. Perhaps it’s closer to laying in a prairie field looking for animals in the clouds with Mark Hollis.

Peace Flag Ensemble brings together a curious range of artistic backgrounds from studied players to left-field experimentalists. Their recordings are a pastiche of improvisation, composition, and collage. Centered around Jon Neher’s piano improvisations and Travis Packer’s electric bass, Astral Plains sees the collective expanded in both size and sound with the addition of percussionist Michael Thievin and contributions from guests including Patrick Shiroishi and Nick Walters. It was produced and mixed by ambient artist Michael Scott Dawson, who also provides subtle electronics, guitars, and field recordings. Paul Gutheil and Dalton Lam, on saxophone and trumpet respectively, provide linear and melodic passages tempered by restraint. They also allow Dawson to recontextualize their contributions through effects and tape manipulation. The result is a nuanced and joyous record that finds clarity through experimentation.

Peace Flag Ensemble

Peace Flag Ensemble
Peace Flag Ensemble is an experimental jazz collective from scattered points across Saskatchewan. Their debut album, Noteland, is available June 18, 2021 on We Are Busy Bodies.

This album contains no booklet.