When We Were That What Wept for the Sea

by Colin Stetson

When We Were That What Wept for the Sea cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 12 May 2023
  • Label: Not On Label
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 1:10:41
  • Community rating: 3.72/5 from 15 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

'When We Were That What Wept for the Sea' showcases saxophonist Colin Stetson鈥檚 virtuosic command of circular breathing and multiphonics, creating immense, layered soundscapes of melody and percussion live without the use of loops or overdubs. Recorded as a tribute to his late father, the album functions as a cinematic meditation on grief, using the bass saxophone's full sonic range to evoke a vast, oceanic journey through sorrow, chaos, and catharsis. The work integrates Stetson's own guttural vocalizations and features contributions from Scottish smallpipe player Br矛ghde Chaimbeul, adding to its haunting and elemental atmosphere.

Genres

Descriptors: saxophone, unaccompanied-solo, avant-garde, minimal, droning, experimental, repetitive, virtuosic, chamber, atmospheric

Tracklist

  1. The Lighthouse I (03:41)
  2. When we were that what wept for the sea (05:48)
  3. Infliction (05:17)
  4. Passage (03:25)
  5. Long before the sky would open (08:10)
  6. One day in the sun (04:12)
  7. Fireflies (04:56)
  8. The Lighthouse II (04:30)
  9. The Lighthouse III (03:32)
  10. Writhen (02:03)
  11. The surface and the light (04:12)
  12. The Lighthouse IV (02:10)
  13. Behind the sky (05:39)
  14. Wrathful seas quiesce (02:26)
  15. The Lighthouse V (06:44)
  16. Safe with me (03:56)

Credits

  • Colin Stetson - producer, mixed by, written by, performer, recorded by, saxophones, wind instruments, vocals
  • Br矛ghde Chaimbeul - scottish smallpipes
  • Iarla 脫 Lion谩ird - guest
  • Toby Summerfield - guitar
  • Matt Combs - string instrumentation
  • Roman Klonek - artwork, layout
  • Jonas Verwijnen - unknown
  • Marc-Olivier Germain - mastered by

More from Colin Stetson: full discography