The opus feels somewhat meditative, whilst tapping into the emotional and timeless nature of jazz with elements of post-rock, neo-classical, and blues. Needless to say, we are mesmerized. In a word, “saudade” translates from Portuguese as “yearning”, and the composition certainly brings this sentiment to life.
Next up is Blatherskite, which takes on a more subversive edge with a fierce and industrial vibe, in line with the meaning of the word, “a voluble purveyor of nonsense; a blusterer”. The composition is super dynamic with the presence of an astral saxophone by James Bjork, psychedelic panning detailing and an overall vibe, once again, in line with the title of the track. The trip feels expansive, dimensional yet high octane, and we appreciate the juxtaposition from the album opener.
Thrum kicks off with a cerebral frequency, reversed pads and a cosmic energy, serving as a perfect segue into Munge which opens with an enigmatic melody, a playful bassline and evocative electric guitar. The riffs are earworms, and the presence of the melodic saxophone layers make for a super engaging sonic experience with a cinematic edge.
Next, we experience Stravaig, which serves as a brief repose from the chaos of its predecessor. The instrumental performances are smooth, once again showcasing the diversity that Dave Hawley has to offer as a composer. The piece holds as timeless nature, and again, would be perfect for a Hollywood movie soundtrack.
Peripatetic kicks off with toms and a captivating piano performance with intricately fused guitars, celestial riffs. We learn that Open Till Late is a project that began when drummer Eric Buratty approached Dave Hawley about composing and recording music to go along with some drum tracks that he had recorded during the pandemic lockdown.
A couple of years later, James Bjork reached out to Dave to inquire about opportunities to play saxophone on any projects. This prompted Dave to remember the dormant tracks and he extended an invitation to James to collaborate on four of them.
Eigengrau is an enchanting piano composition, allowing us the option to experience some intimacy with the composer. For reference, Eigengrau, is the dark light, or brain gray, background colour that many people report seeing in the absence of light. We love the depth that Dave Hawley has to offer with not only his compositions, but the titles that accompany each of them.
We then experience Propinquity which is the first track on the record that features sung vocals with inspiring, poetic prowess in line with the overarching, enigmatic concept of the record. The opus features Dave’s partner, Jen Hawley, on vocals. This leads us to another elegant piano performance, titled Fettle which taps into a cerebral melancholia. The final track is titled Bogue, and takes on a darker and more mysterious energy, making for a fitting conclusion to the mesmerizing record, and leaving us indeed yearning for more.
We love what Dave Hawley is creating, and have added Saudade to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream Dave’s wider discography, including Leg Yield, and anticipate future releases from the visionary composer.