Jessica Moss Pools Of Light

The debut solo full-length by violinist and sound artist Jessica Moss (Thee Silver Mt. Zion,
Black Ox Orkestar, Vic Chesnutt, Carla Bozulich). Recorded by Radwan Ghazi Moumneh
(Jerusalem In My Heart, Suuns, Matana Roberts, Eric Chenaux) RIYL: Sibelius, Laurie
Anderson, Sarah Davachi, Benoît Pioulard, Loscil. Jessica Moss is known best as the violinist,
co-composer, and backing vocalist with the acclaimed chamber-punk band Thee Silver Mt.
Zion Memorial Orchestra (SMZ) and the avant-klezmer group Black Ox Orkestar. As fans
of these projects will know, Moss has developed a distinctive and impressive approach to
violin that combines a natural technical fluidity, a recombinant command of folk, classical
and modern idioms, and an adventurous exploration of signal-bending and analog effects
that uniquely expand the spectrum of the violin as sound source. Her solo work is deeply
rooted in live performance, where she builds up and breaks down stunning longform
compositions in real time with an array of pedals - including octave/harmonizers and
samplers/loopers. To hear all of this rallied on her debut full-length solo release is intensely
rewarding: comprised of two side-length multi-movement compositions, Pools Of Light
unfolds at a stately, inexorable pace, combining sound-art and signal-processed timbres,
extended melodic and contrapuntal lines, and the periodic deployment of stark, minimalist
vocals.