Austrian, New York-based interdisciplinary artist and vocalist, Luisa Muhr, presents her solo debut album, TEUFLIN/SHE-DEVIL. It is a structured improvised music project based on a handmade 12-page graphic score. The score allows each player to focus on improvising with positive and negative spaces in each image, variation of angles by rotating score pages, pointillism through the shadow textures of each image, long tones through the outline of individual cutouts on each image, the density of the cutouts, and/or the player’s volume according to the size of individual cutouts of each image.
The project challenges the concept of “evil” through a womxn's perspective while questioning the separation of “good” and “evil”, specifically as found in Western traditions. Muhr incorporates the original German texts from Goethe’s Faust, all centering the “spirit that denies”: Mephistopheles (or: Mephistophela).
In an all womxn-trio, Muhr is joined by two other international masterful improvisers, Emily Suzanne Shapiro (CA/UK), and Adriana Camacho (MX) on bass clarinet and bass, respectively.
Recorded in one take and preserved as such, this album offers a listening journey that invites the listener into a sonic landscape that not only explores a broad range of vocal and instrumental sounds but also imagery and architecture, expanding far beyond the limitations of genre.
Texts from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s “Faust”
Recorded in Rome (Italy) at Villa Colombo, 2023.
Mixed and mastered by Shrenik Ganatra.
Produced by Luisa Muhr.
Boomslang Records, March 2024.
Design by Shrenik Ganatra.
Words by Daniel:
Luisa Muhr is remarkable in her contributions to contemporary vocal art, as well as to music, dance, and humanity, itself. This trio confidently, naturally, organically, walks into the fray of the sometimes bewilderingly formidable diversity, and populousness, of so-called twenty-first century classical music, and free improvisation. Her trio-mates, Adriana Camacho, and Emily Suzanne Shapiro, are uniquely suited to meet this challenge. The subtlety and nuance of communication with, and sensitivity to one another is breathtaking.
The recording exhibits an astonishing self-awareness, on the part of each of the three musicians, and great human empathy, daring, and naturalness, in the trio’s collective and individual range of musical expression. This music not only transcends genre, but also, music, itself, in the sense of being a warmly welcoming spiritual, and soul invitation. It’s also simply a great pleasure to listen to.
--Daniel Carter (master improviser)
Thank you notes:
There are many people to thank but special thanks go to: my fellow musicians, Emliy Suzanne Shapiro and Adriana Camacho, for this deep journey; the rest of the gang (in alphabetical order --you know who you are): Abram Mamet, fall raye, Gary Jones III, and Rahul Carlberg; Shrenik Ganatra for your brilliant mind, (relentless patience, and care; Elliot Sharp for creating a container in which this project was initially birthed; and Daniel Carter for always being a true and honest friend and incredible playing-partner.
credits
released March 22, 2024
license
all rights reserved
Texts from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s “Faust”
Recorded in Rome (Italy) at Villa Colombo, 2023.
Mixed and mastered by Shrenik Ganatra.
Produced by Luisa Muhr.
Boomslang Records, March 2024.
Design by Shrenik Ganatra.
Luisa Muhr is an Austrian, New York-based vocalist and interdisciplinary artist, creating improvised music, installations,
performance art, graphic compositions, experimental theater, and video works.
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