Halvorson, Mary and Pavone, Jessica – “Departure of Reason” – [Thirsty Ear]

The Escher-like pencil drawings inside the CD booklet for this album hint at the crazy, labyrinth-like musical journey taken by Mary Halvorson and Jessica Pavone on this release from 2011. Viola, guitar, and vocals are utilized in a variety of ways; ranging from pleasant to alien to ominous. “New October” even feels a bit metal and prog-like in its hectic arrangement, whereas other moments would align nicely with classical arrangements or experimental guitar outings.