Spring Snowfall

A typically revolutionary Liu Sola album, Spring Snowfall places her challenging compositions in the nimble hands of Wu Man, master of the harp-like Chinese pipa. At times almost excruciatingly beautiful, at other times frustratingly difficult, the album is meant to convey the depth of expression of Chinese ink painting — at times “wild and rough like an ink splash,” at others “extremely fine and detailed like fine brushwork.” The results are jarring, but ultimately effective, moving from pastoral simplicity to effects-laden dissonant noise with no notice whatsoever. Intriguing in an avant-garde sort of way, but not recommended for traditionalists. – Bret Love