Alexandra Grimal - Refuge [Relative Pitch Records]

Put out on the circuit via Relative Pitch Records on June 17th, 2k22 is "Refuge", the new, eight tracks and roughly 58 minutes spanning album effort created by French saxophone player Alexandra Grimal who's amassed quite an impressive catalogue since appearing first on the longplay circuit back in 2009. Oepning with two solo pieces both exceeding the ten minutes mark Grimal sets the tone for all things to come on this album, providing a playful, almost (Neo)Classical or even rennaissance'esque take on her instrument of choice, the soprano saxophone, in the opening piece that is "Salamandre" whereas the subsequent "Chateau" is following on an eerie, haunted and solemn path into the twilight before losing itself in extended longing hauls which seem to find their nightly response in "Susumu" whereas both "Martinets" and "Vent" go down a road of pronounced minimalist repetition, "Roseliere" and "Escalier" hark back to enchanted Classical motifs from ancient fairytales and the final cut that is "Berceuse" rounds things off on a slightly more playful, yet melancholia infused note for a closing.

Album artwork on Instagram!