All My Circles Run

2016 release. All My Circles Run is the third full-length release by Montreal-based electro-acoustic composer Sarah Davachi and her second outing for Students of Decay. In a move which may surprise followers of her previous output, the five compositions on this record eschew synthesizer entirely, each focusing on a different instrument, including strings, voice, organ and piano. What remains consistent, however, is her striking attention to detail and a commitment to tonal possibilities that characterize all of her work. The sinewy "For Strings" opens the album, with keening overtones stretching out in all directions to form a massive, slow-moving, radiant sound. "For Voice" charts an even more celestial course, as wordless vocals ebb and flow to awe-inspiring effect. The stunning, melancholic "For Piano" closes the record and is a high watermark in Davachi's oeuvre, with plaintive piano figures nestled atop a shimmering string drone to create a rich, reverent atmosphere. All My Circles Run is a step forward from an exciting artist whose compositional and aesthetic tendencies steer her steadfastly toward both the subjunctive and the sublime.