"Lips" Liner Notes by Tim Rutherford-Johnson
All artists are influenced to some extent by their environment. Daniel Lentz certainly is—and he includes in this not only the landscape but also the peoples, cultures, and sounds of...
Daniel Lentz's Lips, comprised of archival recordings of works from 1965 -1989, encapsulates the diverse influences of his Californian environment. Featuring works like "Song(s) of the Sirens," which reflect Lentz's signature style of looped vocals and fragmented texts, this collection demonstrates his unique blend of music that feels both structured and spontaneous. The album highlights Lentz’s innovative use of phonemes, creating music that gradually reveals its meaning. This technique is vividly showcased in "North American Eclipse" and "Uitoto," which incorporate Native American elements and extensive vocal processes to create a mesmerizing soundscape.
The album also includes "Requiem, In memoriam Wolfgang Stoerchle – Songs in a Medieval Manner," a tribute that uses Latin texts and ethereal soundscapes to honor Lentz’s late friend. Meanwhile, "Talk Radio" captures the vibrant chaos of LA’s freeways and radio stations, infusing modern rhythms and historical melodies into a collage of everyday sounds. Finally, "Fünke," a piece predating Lentz’s California days, connects with later works through its innovative structure and emphasis on percussion, hinting at Lentz’s enduring themes of music as an evolving process.
Overall, Lips not only showcases Lentz’s technical mastery and innovative use of voice but also reflects his deep connection to his surroundings, making it a profound listening experience that captures the essence of a transformative period in his career.
Press
"the kind of album that sneaks up on you, wrapping itself around your senses like the lingering fog over a California coastline… a collection of pieces that simultaneously disorient and captivate."
- Chain D.L.K.
"Long years of residency in California have helped Lentz to sever ties with the reified conventionalities of Europe's more recent centuries and to create music where freshness, buoyancy and beauty play a vital role. Lips reflects this acclimatisation to America's West Coast to a point where, on "Uitoto", amid a piano's rolling waves, Lentz seems to channel the youthful spirit of Brian Wilson."
- Julian Cowley, The Wire, September 2024
Track List
DIGITAL TRACK LIST
- North American Eclipse (20:10)
- Song(s) of the Sirens (7:35)
- Fünke (5:55)
- Talk Radio (14:04)
- Uitoto (25:50)
Requiem: In Memoriam Wolfgang Stoerchle – Songs in a Medieval Manner
- Requiem (2:10)
- Kyrie (1:52)
- Dies Irae (3:28)
- Liber Scriptus (2:08)
- Recordare (4:52)
- Lacrymosa (2:48)
Credits