Ambient jazz, world music, and cinematic instrumentation converge across Michael J McEvoy‘s memorable album Terra Cognita, featuring legendary Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira. The album unfolds as a meditative tribute to nature, with piano, strings, percussion, guitar, and woodwinds creating richly textured compositions that balance intimate reflection with expansive, atmospheric beauty.
Gorgeous album opener “No Other World” delights in its illuminated piano work and gentle percussive pitter-patter, gradually expanding through a series of dynamic keyboard expanses, moving from lounge-set mystique to brightened ardor. The jazzy rhythms and enveloping piano work find blissful accompaniment in serene backing vocals, while heartrending strings emerge during an especially impactful final segment. Ensuing track “Rise” commences with flickering percussion and late-night guitar work instead, before evolving toward similarly dynamic keys—swelling from subdued intrigue amidst ambient birdsong to a more beautifully apparent emotiveness backed by brisker percussive aspects and caresses of strings.
Amongst the album’s most ravishing successes, “Sol Lamente” stuns in its striking melodic direction and range of instrumentation. Trickling guitars, somber strings, and riveting piano delight in their moody assembly, with the midpoint showing shades of Radiohead in its keys especially, before blossoming into a string-laden elegance. Woodwind incorporations in the final segment prove spine-tingling as well. Another highlight is “Forgotten Children,” exuding a haunting direction in its ghostly strings, panting percussion, and moving piano work. Terra Cognita is a masterfully atmospheric full-length from Michael J McEvoy.
Also be sure to check out the visual accompaniment, by Kajal Verma, for “Sol Lamente”:
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“Sol Lamente” is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Rainy Days and Late Night Drives.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
