SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BRIANA MARELA – MY INNER REST

BRIANA MARELA
MY INNER REST
INDEPENDENT

It has been a while since composers of what is considered modern classical music have adopted elements of other musical genres that are also considered as modern – whether it is rock in its ‘classical’ form, or all electronica in its various shapes (and forms), jazz and what not.

Peruvian American composer Briana Marela is surely among those, and she has already released a substantial body of work that explores the combination of voice and electronics, a musical plane where artists like Björk, Laurie Anderson, Juana Molina, Beverly Glenn-Copeland have already made an impact.

On My Inner Rest, her latest offering, Marela continues her vocal and electroacoustic explorations, this time around performed live by her in the Mills College concert hall.

On paper (or screen) it sounds as a bit of a risky proposition, as the sound could have been either ’empty’ or overburdened by electronics. Yet Marela is able to navigate masterfully here, reaching an excellent balance between the voice and electronics, and using the space between the notes to her advantage. It might be experimental but it is surely an experiment so many listeners could enjoy on its musical merits.

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