Duo Collages Soundscapes Inspired by Arthouse Cinema

The D.C.-based duo, known as Lifted, has released 'Movie,' an album drawing inspiration from arthouse cinema. Their unique approach involves collaging ambient jazz sketches, Foley sounds, and scraps of dialogue into a cohesive montage. The duo aims to capture the intimate feeling of witnessing music's creation as if present in the studio.

Lifted, comprised of Andrew Field-Pickering and Matt Papich, collaborates with rotating instrumentalists. They utilize both analog improvisation and digital processing, employing CDJs loaded with stems and sonic "found footage." This method structures the music and charts new sonic territories.

The album's midsection features extended pieces exploring the space between field recordings and studio work. Washed-out dialogue and environmental storytelling intermingle with ambient textures, reminiscent of ECM or incidental jazz. Tracks like "Melts Very Nasty" and "Other Delights" showcase this blend, incorporating bagpipes and dub corridors.

While 'Movie' prioritizes surface coherence over deep characterization, it offers moments of inspired world-building, such as a fictional country song about a repo man. The listening experience centers on Field-Pickering and Papich manipulating their gear, calibrating immersion, and provoking the stereo field.

The album is bookended by beat-driven jams, demonstrating Lifted's panoramic approach to expanding ensemble range. Contributions like more eaze's rickety pedal steel on "The Ice Chewers" add unique textures. Ultimately, 'Movie' presents a workmanlike improviser's record where interplay remains grounded.