Los Angeles saxophonist Aaron Shaw finds new breath in his dark, haunting debut album 'And So It Is'.
With bone marrow failure and a dwindling oxygen supply, Shaw was forced to reevaluate his musical approach at the age of 27. Diagnosed with anemia in 2023, he sought a change in pace that would allow him to play without exhaustion.
Shaw's sound is characterized by a darker fog than what can be found on LA bandleader Carlos Niño's music or Kamasi Washington's records. The tenor saxophonist mostly plays his instrument with quiet caution, opting for the alto flute as an alternative due to its lower breath requirements.
Throughout 'And So It Is', Shaw navigates a musical road that has come to an end and cautiously explores new horizons. The album features intimate loops and unexpected flourishes on flute, providing glimpses of optimism amidst the melancholic atmosphere.
Kim Gordon's solo track 'Not Today' offers a welcome respite from her usual abrasive sound, with Gordon's forlorn vocals over warmer synths adding an air of vulnerability to the industrial clatter that defines much of her work.
The week's best new tracks also feature Morgan Nagler's 'Grassoline', a heartfelt ode to nature written in Nagler's instantly indelible style; Raf-Saperra's 'Butcher's Scale' featuring Benny the Butcher, blending Punjabi flow with boom-bap beats; Wu Lyf's 11-minute anthem 'Tib St Tabernacle', an explosive return from the Mancunian rockers; Elsas' solo debut, melding blown-out metallic percussion with holy vocals reminiscent of Rosalía; and Sunn O)))'s 'Glory Black', a 10-minute heavy track punctuated by a surprise minimalist piano interlude.
Shaw's debut album marks a significant shift in his musical trajectory, one that finds him navigating the darker corners of sound while still maintaining an air of quiet introspection.
With bone marrow failure and a dwindling oxygen supply, Shaw was forced to reevaluate his musical approach at the age of 27. Diagnosed with anemia in 2023, he sought a change in pace that would allow him to play without exhaustion.
Shaw's sound is characterized by a darker fog than what can be found on LA bandleader Carlos Niño's music or Kamasi Washington's records. The tenor saxophonist mostly plays his instrument with quiet caution, opting for the alto flute as an alternative due to its lower breath requirements.
Throughout 'And So It Is', Shaw navigates a musical road that has come to an end and cautiously explores new horizons. The album features intimate loops and unexpected flourishes on flute, providing glimpses of optimism amidst the melancholic atmosphere.
Kim Gordon's solo track 'Not Today' offers a welcome respite from her usual abrasive sound, with Gordon's forlorn vocals over warmer synths adding an air of vulnerability to the industrial clatter that defines much of her work.
The week's best new tracks also feature Morgan Nagler's 'Grassoline', a heartfelt ode to nature written in Nagler's instantly indelible style; Raf-Saperra's 'Butcher's Scale' featuring Benny the Butcher, blending Punjabi flow with boom-bap beats; Wu Lyf's 11-minute anthem 'Tib St Tabernacle', an explosive return from the Mancunian rockers; Elsas' solo debut, melding blown-out metallic percussion with holy vocals reminiscent of Rosalía; and Sunn O)))'s 'Glory Black', a 10-minute heavy track punctuated by a surprise minimalist piano interlude.
Shaw's debut album marks a significant shift in his musical trajectory, one that finds him navigating the darker corners of sound while still maintaining an air of quiet introspection.
️
He had 2 relearn how 2 play after gettin diagnosed w/ anemia in 2023 
& now he's all about the lower breath requirements 4 his alto flute 
. The album's got these intimate loops & unexpected flourishes on flute that'll make u feel like everythin' is gonna be alright... but trust me, it's not 
. New music alert!
. I can totally relate to how he's had to reevaluate his approach due to health issues, and it shows in the way he plays - with such quiet caution and restraint. It's like you can feel the weight of his struggles in every note 
.
but that's what makes it so compelling? like he's navigating these tough emotions and coming out the other side with something new. and kim gordon's track is everything, her vocals are all emotional and raw, adds this whole different level of depth to the album 
really resonated with me on a deeper level i love how he explores those melancholic vibes with caution, like he's not rushing into anything. the alto flute is a genius move btw, who knew it could be so emotive? 
also loving Kim Gordon's 'Not Today' - that vocal delivery gives me chills every time 
what's interesting to me about Shaw's sound is how it feels both dark and hopeful at the same time, like he's finding this new light in the midst of his struggles. anyway, can't wait to dive deeper into this album 
. It's like they're trying to cram too much into one place and it just becomes overwhelming. I mean, who needs a week's worth of new tracks every time? Can't we just get back to the good old days of simple threads for discussion topics? 
It's just so much hassle...
The way he experiments with the alto flute is SO cool and it adds a whole new dimension to his dark, haunting soundscapes 
I love how she brings this vulnerability to her vocals on top of that industrial beat 
What I'm most excited about is the diversity in tracks - from Wu Lyf's epic 11-minute anthem to Elsas' solo debut... it's like a whole new world of sounds just opened up 
️
.
. And can we talk about Morgan Nagler's 'Grassoline' ?? it's like he's speaking straight to my soul 
I'm loving the new direction Shaw's taken with his sound - it's still super dark and moody but there's this sense of vulnerability that's really drawing me in 
. Shaw's sound is so unique and captivating - I'm def gonna be listening to his album on repeat for a while 
.
This new album is like a reflection of our society where we're all trying to find balance between darkness and light 
. Aaron Shaw's sound is like a warning sign, telling us that we need to slow down and take care of ourselves before it's too late 
. I mean, think about it, he had to reevaluate his music at 27 due to health issues – it's like our world is forcing us to adapt to a new pace 
.
.
. We need more of that in our lives, more introspection and less noise-making 
. The album is like a wake-up call, reminding us that we're not alone in this journey 
.
. Shaw's music is like a puzzle, each piece fitting together to create this dark yet hopeful masterpiece 
.
. And the way he switches between alto flute and tenor sax is so innovative - it's like he's finding new ways to breathe life into his music 
. The collaboration with Kim Gordon on 'Not Today' is also a highlight - I love how it adds this vulnerable vibe to her usual industrial sound 
. It's like, you can feel the weight of his bone marrow failure and anemia, but at the same time, you're still drawn in by this haunting beauty