Alula is the new album from Brooklyn-based composer Caroline Davis. The record is available exclusively through New Amsterdam’s Bandcamp subscription as part of the Windmill Series, a new digitally-focused set of releases for subscribers in addition to our existing release schedule. Subscribe today to receive the album, which will be released on all other platforms in February 2019.
Formed in Brooklyn in 2016, Alula was born out of several duo performances between Caroline Davis and Gregory Saunier. Internal monologues resulted in the addition of pianist/keyboardist Matt Mitchell, who Davis has worked with in other contexts. Alula’s debut album features original pieces by Davis, whole-heartedly motivated by the study of an anterior digit on a bird’s wing. The alula wing functions as a locomotive during flight and landing, and has specific rhythmic functions, which is of central concern on this self-titled album.
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On an edifying flight through universe #99, our bodies forward motioning, weaving, dealing, scheming, teaming—we fall. Time and Time Again, we are rescued by essences we dare not translate, but feel. “They are real,” we pontificate, and fear sets in. We depend on these essences? Why yes, it’s true. Open space::run like the wind// jump//fly////our freedom(s) demand that we try until we make it aerial. We are soaring.
credits
released May 10, 2019
Recorded at Figure 8 (Brooklyn NY), December 14th 2017 by Sam Owens
Edited by Connor Grant
Mixed and Mastered by Gregory Saunier
Produced by Caroline Davis
Artwork by Robert Pollard
Design and Layout by Audible Paint
Caroline Davis / Alto Saxophone, Voice
Matt Mitchell / Prophet 6 Synthesizer, Modular Synth, ARP Synthesizer
Gregory Saunier / Drums, Percussion, Voice