Aurora

A beautiful set of brief compositions for an extended woodwind ensemble, aurora feels like a quietly significant development for Swedish composer and improviser Vilhelm Bromander. The pieces shift in and out of focus, sliding held tones against each other in unexpected ways; in this respect, it reminds of Arthur Russell’s Tower of Meaning, and in its abstract jazziness, there are touches of some of Carla Bley’s work. But in its slow-moving poise, you can hear the music of Bromander’s peers, like Ellen Arkbro and Kali Malone. The brevity of each piece works beautifully, too – nothing stagnates; it feels like a very pop gesture.