John Zorn - Psychomagia (2014)

Aram Bajakian, Eyal Maoz, Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz, Kenny Grohowski. Squaring the Circle * Circe * The Nameless God * Four Rivers * Evocation of The Triumphant Beast * Celestial Mechanism * Metapsychomagia * Anima Mundi * Sacred Emblems. Psychomagia is the new album by the fabulous quartet of Abraxas, the acclaimed Moroccan Rock arrangements for the Book of Angels series. Here they perform a complex new suite of music written expressly for them by Downtown alchemist John Zorn. Drawing inspiration from the magical writings of Giordano Bruno and Alejandro Jodorowski and others, Zorn has written a bold collection of compositions that challenge the musicians to the breaking point. With a program ranging from some of the most intense ritualistic sounds you are likely to hear to tender minimalistic odes, this is a surprising new volume in Zorn's mystic series that matches the intensity and power of Moonchild, PainKiller and Naked City. Recorded at Orange Music and mixed by Bill Laswell. Essential.