'Woodcut' is the debut album from Sailcloth, the project name upright bassist/multi-instrumentalist Alex Luquet records under. 'Woodcut' was released on the US label, Lost Tribe Sound.
The Pennsylvania native caught the attention of Lost Tribe Sound with the 2019 EP 'Close Keeping'. Its strong lean towards a highly textural and bass-forward sound connected it to LTS immediately.
Original discussions about the debut record centered on creating an album that pushed the often background role of the upright bass to the foreground, letting the rich, sturdy tones that the instrument is capable of be the star of the show. With the thirteen songs of 'Woodcut', Sailcloth has well surpassed this original outline, undoubtedly giving this massive wooden instrument center stage while also delivering an album that is unexpected yet comfortable simultaneously. It delivers on those rumbling cathartic lows, though it equally gives way to some of the most satisfying big-hearted highs.
'Woodcut' contains this wide-eyed sense of wonder, warming us with its nostalgic melodies and deep earthy undertones that point towards a strong commune with nature and all that breathes around us. At times, it is refreshing, joyful, undeniably playful. Further still its gritty, awkward, elusive, contemplative. Never fully pledging its allegiance to just one spectrum on the color wheel, ‘Woodcut' evades easy classification and the stereotypical jazz-like outcomes one typically expects from the instrument. Best we can figure, it's electro-acoustic music with a longing for travel, adventure, and real connection. It's music that is eager to share its colorful experiences with all who will listen and reward them with sure-handed nuance not often heard in debut albums.
released July 2, 2021
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Originally released on Lost Tribe Sound. See Catalog:
losttribesound.bandcamp.com
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BEST OF 2021 (NON-METAL) - "Sailcloth’s debut full-length Woodcut is a collection of rich, exploratory miniatures that span the distance between contemporary classical, ambient, acoustic, and experimental jazz." - (Dan Obstkrieg) LAST RITES
FAVORITE AMBIENT ALBUMS OF 2021 - LOW LIGHT MIXES
"Acoustic music with aspects of drone and folktronic collage - yet it feels like it's own thing, not least because it's led by the bass. There are nods to jazz & Americana - and at other times, a twinkly post-classical bent, but mostly it has a warm feeling of enveloping darkness. One of the best releases on Lost Tribe Sound lately, which is high praise!" - (Peter Hollo) UTILITY FOG
"The tones are rich, easy to get lost in" - (Rudy Carrera) MUSIC YOU NEED TO HEAR
"Luquet sketches pieces that can be both quite dark and warm. While he certainly doesn't tread on the usual paths, it never gets grim or inaccessible. It is mainly adventurous and a kind of dialogue between the different instruments, electronics, genres and nature. This results in a very versatile and original sound, where you are always surprised by the new discoveries." - (translated from Dutch) (Jan Willem Broek) DE SUBJECTIVISTEN
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Total run time: 40 minutes
Alex Luquet: upright bass, keyboards, synthesizers, guitars
Felicia Vee: drums on Red Woods, guitar on Wrens, synth on Grackles
Saher Khan: clarinets on Red Woods and Woodcut
Jasmine Woodson: harp on Red Woods
John Morgan Kimock: drums on Power Station Cinders
All songs written and recorded by Alex Luquet
Mixed by Todd Schied
Additional engineering on Red Woods by Todd Schied
Mastered by James Plotkin
Artwork by Laura Wade (
www.laurawadeartist.com)
Layout and design by R. Keane
Thank you to all of my friends and family for being a part of this release.
© Alex Luquet | Lost Tribe Sound LLC
℗ Settled Scores LLC (ASCAP)