A thread for the self-taught violinist, electronic musician, amateur ethnomusicologist and R&B singer SUDAN ARCHIVES

So her album, 'Athena' is stunning - this feels very much of a piece with Kelsey Lu's 'Blood', not just the precocity of the approach, but the way she builds thoroughly modern, digital music around a traditional string instrument. She taught herself the violin, listening to Sudanese music on Youtube and trying to incorporate those sounds, and building abstract pop music out of it.

Which tended to result in music that I appreciated rather than loved, until the new record where she's paired that approach with actual pop songs, and wow.

And yes, it's as precocious as you'd expect from a record with songs called 'Black Vivaldi Sonata' and 'Ballet of the Unhatched Twins I'. It's also lush, consistently interesting and regularly gorgeous.

I love her first two e.p.s, they reminded me of Tricky/Bjork/Erykah Badu among others, but I'm finding the album more polished and less interesting, but I'll give it more time.

Timing is weird for me. Also loved the first two EPs but I’m not in the mood for the album atm and the couple of times I’ve tried I get bored. I really liked the Iceland song and was an early highlight but I’m putting it on hold for later.

this is indeed very good, more strings in everything

i saw her last summer at a festival and she was stunning

Really like this album and agree with Matt’s opening post.

The album flows a lot better somehow if you move or skip 'Black Vivaldi Sonata', which feels way too early in the tracklisting given how abstract it is.

Very taken with the ridiculousness of 'Glorious' right now, and also the desperation of 'Limitless'.

I am in love with this.

It sounds awesome on paper but 'Confessions' isn't doing much for me, she's playing it way too safe. How's the rest of the album in comparison?

It's a pop/r&b album, how adventurous does it need to be to be good?

I dislike 99% of pop/r&b so very.

do you like dawn richard

No. I think I only like modern r&b when it's depressing and doesn't talk about relationships (or only incidentally).

So... you only like The Weeknd?

Nah, I'm being overly reductive. D'Angelo, Solange and Kelela are probably the three I've enjoyed the most over the past five years.

This is sounding nice. Very breezy considering all the layers. Although like Matt I don't really get what Black Vivaldi Sonata is doing in the context of the other tracks but maybe it'll become apparent on relistens

From NY Times:
Parks recently started working with a violin teacher to expand her technique. She is also planning her first non-solo tour, joined by a pianist, that she intends to present as a surreal variation on a classical violin-and-piano recital. Her microphone stand will be shaped like a silvery snake.

....

tbh I'm all for melding the chamber recital with R&B and the Korn/Ministry stage design aesthetic

More from Pareles article in NY Times

Stones Throw encouraged her to try writing songs with producers including Rodaidh McDonald (who worked with the xx), Paul White (who has worked with Charli XCX) and Ernest Greene (who records as Washed Out). Working in her bedroom studio, she also built increasingly elaborate string arrangements, bringing a new orchestral richness to some songs and placing abstract instrumental transitions between album tracks.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/04/arts/music/sudan-archives-athena.html

Cellist Marie Spaemann is doing something similar that I like a lot better:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MIvBEDzH_w

that isn't bad but I'm not sure it's really doing anything similar, it's way, way more smooth jazz coffeeshop

Playing my town the same night as Wire. Already like this enough to be conflicted about it!

if marie spaemann's cello playing is "self-taught" i'm really impressed because she's flat up playing stuff from bach's cello suites on that record

comes off like classical crossover to me, but i like it. wonder how long before she collaborates with robert glasper.

No. I think I only like modern r&b when it's depressing and doesn't talk about relationships (or only incidentally).

― pomenitul, Thursday, November 14, 2019 12:29 PM bookmarkflaglink

So... you only like The Weeknd?

― brigadier pudding (DJP), Thursday, November 14, 2019 12:58 PM bookmarkflaglink

lol

love this record, a lot

don't really understand the issue with "Black Vivaldi Sonata" tbh, one of the highlights i think, lush and psyched out and full of longing, "Glorious" is absolutely well named and ought to be 4 times as long

has anyone seen her live? snapped up a ticket for her upcoming gig here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV8qWvFrQRU

^ enjoyed this performance. second tune giving me big penguin cafe orchestra vibes

Third tune is lovely too, getting some toumani diabate-esque kora-type sounds there

oh. my. goodness.

This new single is FIRE. I cannot wait for this album drop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxKYFA_fz6s

Titties up !

this and "Selfish Soul" are rhythmically ingenious, both jumped out at me like early MIA tracks. I didn't love the last album like her opening salvos, but I may like this latest turn most of all.

the new album is so cool, i'm obsessed

The singles have been LIT. This is my most anticipated record of the year and can't wait to dive in.

Never listened to Sudan Archives before but I am floored by this album. It's been a while since I've heard something this BIG, expansive, and coherently flowing from start to finish. The flawless combination of styles -- hip-hop, rap, electronic, experimental -- reminds me a bit of FKA Twigs (though I've never connected with her, personally).

She really balances this intensely self-examined, self-contained world with the witty and chill Stones Throw vibe.

so good. "Freakalizer" song of the year.

Live show was incredible. Her personality exudes the most exuberant, adorable energy both on stage and off. Danced in the crowd, played an Irish jig for a bit, and fucking slayed every one of her tracks. She was as excited for the crowd as we were for her. The show sold out (SF) which I think it was the first sellout of her tour so far, and she openly expressed her disbelief that this was now her career! I'm a dork and just had to get her to sign the new record too. I definitely got the madness.

so good. "Freakalizer" song of the year.

― sloop johnnin' skater (geoffreyess)

Cosign

i would do anything to see her live

holy shit @ "freakalizer". late pass here.

Late to the party. One of the best albums of the year. Her ideas don't stop!

Yeah, huge record

sooooo late to the party (and same for the previous album idk why) - this has to be top 5 in the ILM poll

Timing is weird for me. Also loved the first two EPs but I’m not in the mood for the album atm and the couple of times I’ve tried I get bored. I really liked the Iceland song and was an early highlight but I’m putting it on hold for later.
― ✖✖✖ (Moka), Thursday, November 14, 2019 3:55 AM (four years ago) bookmarkflaglink

My situation until today and I'm here to tell you this album is well worth your time. Rocks, unfurls, coils, meditates. The production is less dramatic but the writing is there and the highlights reveal themselves. Some artists have this faculty of being always interesting.