I CARE IF YOU LISTEN: Editor’s Picks: 2020 Contemporary Classical Albums
I CARE IF YOU LISTEN: Editor’s Picks: 2020 Contemporary Classical Albums
BY AMANDA COOK
“First of all, thanks to ICIYL contributor Gemma Peacocke for putting iT Boy, the solo electronic project of Theo Baer, on my radar. The Nail House, a tight 20-minute EP released on New Amsterdam Records, derives its name from the Chinese term for properties that resist the pressures of gentrification–a predatory process that claimed Baer’s home and work studio during the creation of this project. In addition to Baer’s contributions on synths, keyboards, trumpet, drum machine, and tape loops, he is joined by Zachary Paul (violin), Ed Bear (baritone saxophone, electronics), Trevor Hamilton (vocals), and Alex Weston (saxophone).
The Nail House exudes a lo-fi DIY ethos that feels meticulously constructed, yet stripped down and authentic at the same time. Transcendent glistening electronics swirl with trumpet, violin, and saxophone, while dreamy prismatic synth aquariums are punctuated by splashy cymbals. Throughout the three tracks on this EP, iT Boy creates reverberant, meditative, intimate spaces awash with cosmic energy that bring much-needed healing vibes to this tumultuous year.”