Claire Cross – ‘Sleep Cycle’: a variety of evocative ecosystems

Claire Cross‘ latest release Sleep Cycle is a new work for improvising quartet. Each piece corresponds to different phases of our sleep cycles with frequency and amplitude of brain wave activity influencing the compositional devices used within this work. This strong conceptual framework gives the album a sense of cohesion, continuity and a distinct character, setting it apart from other releases in the Australian music landscape.

Musically this work wanders further along the minimalist, ambient path paved in Cross’ previous release Into Light; whilst simultaneously embracing a freer, wilder more improvised process. This album sees Cross collaborating with a new quartet of long-time friends, Melbourne/Naarm-based improvisors Reuben Lewis (trumpet and effects), Merinda Dias-Jayasinha (voice and effects), Kyrie Anderson (drums and bells.) Don’t be fooled by what appears to be a conventional chordless quartet; this band sounds more like a deconstructed rock band in slow motion, reminiscent of northern European artists like Sigur Ros or Skuli Sverrisson (a major influence on Cross as a bassist and composer / bandleader).

The album opens with the slow waves of Cross’ bass enveloping us. Lewis and Dias – Jayasinha build on this texture by layering languid melodies that drift in and out in their own slowly phasing rhythms.

Rather than writing conventional tunes, Cross offers us a variety of evocative ecosystems. Some are lush and colourful and others are barren and desolate. The pieces get longer and more abstract as we drift deeper into sleep, perhaps as a way of emulating the distortion of time we experience when sleeping.

This group of improvisors are masters of manipulating texture. Each armed with an array of pedals or percussion, they patiently listen and subtly build on the collective aesthetic, artfully blending their tones to the point that it is often hard to tell who is producing which sound. There are many sonic delights to indulge in throughout this record, enhanced by some meticulous post-production courtesy of Reuben Lewis. Eventually after some much need restful sleep, Anderson awakens us from our slumber with a beautiful solo for drum kit and percussion, only to find ourselves in the midst of a psychedelic free-jazz, funk jam! Perhaps this is the musical equivalent of the “…and you were there but it wasn’t you…” feeling we often get from dreams.

For me this is the kind of record I want to reach for late at night when the day is done, the world and my mind are quiet and it is time to relax, take it slow, be patient and still. It taps into the wonderful power that music has to soothe and calm the body and mind, as well as showcasing beautiful improvisors and visionary composition and bandleading.