Fredrik Rasten

Oren Ambarchi has shared “Hidden Tableau (excerpt)”, the first taste of “Cooked”, out September 25th via Drag City. Eiko Ishibashi’s piano ripples give way to a groaning synthetic voice from Konrad Sprenger, then swarms of guitar and synth arpeggios. Two side-long pieces, an international cast, and the wayward streak that runs under Ambarchi’s minimalism brought right to the front.

Seamus Cater and Norwegian guitarist Fredrik Rasten have an exceptional ear for space — knowing what to leave out as much as what to put in. Across six unhurried songs, Strange the Grass Grows breathes and blooms with quiet confidence, its traditional ballads and originals handled with such grace and elegance that it stays with you long after the final note.