Curator Page

Balmorhea

Curator — Volume Two, Drop 3

Contributed “Inscape”, then introduced Takeshi Nishimoto and Rachel Grimes.

Their Contribution

“Inscape”

Rob Lowe: piano, Farfisa & percussion; Michael A. Muller: electric bass & percussion

“We titled our track “Inscape,” referencing a concept from poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, who described the term as the intrinsic beauty, essence, or identity embodied within any given thing — a fitting corollary to a piece of music conceived blindly in relation to a larger whole.”

Texan instrumental ensemble Balmorhea defies easy categorization. Over two decades the group has released eight full-length albums, including Pendant World for Deutsche Grammophon, performing everywhere from gothic cathedrals to Berlin's Funkhaus — sound that is “both restorative and disquieting” (The Atlantic).

Introduced by Balmorhea

Guest Artists on This Drop

Every curator brings two more voices into the volume. These are theirs.

Guest Artist

Takeshi Nishimoto

“Slow Snow”

Takeshi Nishimoto: guitar

“I recorded this track during a two-day session in Tokyo in March 2025 for my upcoming solo album. While spending the winter in Berlin with my family and reviewing the large number of recordings from those sessions, I felt this piece would be a strong fit for the compilation.”

Takeshi Nishimoto is a composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from Fukuoka, Japan, internationally recognized for his work as one half of I'm Not a Gun. Based in Tokyo since 2018, he also lectures at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music.

Guest Artist

Rachel Grimes

“Waltz for Sarah”

Rachel Grimes: piano

““Waltz for Sarah” is an improvisation in the spirit of the traditional dance form, using a modal tonality. Dedicated to Sarah Frances Smith Hart (1849–1932), pianist, composer, and music teacher to all her daughters.”

Rachel Grimes is a composer, pianist, and arranger based in Kentucky. A founding member of the indie chamber group Rachel's, her recent releases include the Grammy-nominated The Blue Hour and The Way Forth, a folk opera tracing generations of Kentucky history through women's voices.

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