The Undreamt-Of Centre – Laurence Pike

The Undreamt-Of Centre is the latest album by Sydney-based drummer, producer and composer Laurence Pike. It was conceived of as an “evocative, contemporary reimagining of the requiem mass”, an eclectic mix of ambient music, modern classical sounds, electronic music and free jazz. Pike’s experimentation, although radical and novel, does not diminish from the album’s emotive power for a second. The Undreamt-Of Centre, dedicated to the memory of Pike’s father-in-law, is tender and sentimental above anything else. The album seamlessly infuses contemporary avant-garde sounds into traditional requiem forms, transforming it into something deeply personal, moving and breath-taking.

Bamako*Chicago Sound System – Nicole Mitchell & Ballaké Sissoko

Nicole Mitchell and Ballaké Sissoko’s collaborative project, Bamako*Chicago Sound System, embraces the new with a healthy respect for the old. Feature a bizarre blend of the kora and balafon (traditional Mali instruemtns) supported by Mitchell’s flute, the album is immediately immersive and captivating. The title track, “Bamako Chicago”, is an unlikely convergence of two disparate cultures and spaces. Listeners are transported into an other-worldly soundscape somewhere in between Midwest America and West Africa, where otherwise incongruous sounds blend together seamlessly. Mitchell describes the essence of the album aptly: We came together as equals, each with our compositions, creating collaborative music … It represents a much-needed unity in this dystopian world we live in.