Gelsey Bell & Erin Rogers
Skylighght
 

 Skylighght is the duo project of vocalist Gelsey Bell and saxophonist Erin Rogers, both acclaimed figures of the New York City experimental music community. The project cultivates a minimalist music constructed upon the organic acoustic vibrations of interlaced resonances. To bring forth the luminescent character in these pieces, new performative techniques and compositional strategies were developed, distinctive to this duo. The music emphasizes qualities of mutual sensitivity between performers, hyper-awareness of sonic environment and an attitude of deep listening.

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Much of Skylighght’s enchantment is conveyed though its title - a nod to Adam Saroyan’s infamous poem, “lighght,” which Saroyan describes in saying, “that the crux of the poem is to try and make the ineffable, which is light... into a thing. An extra ‘gh’ does it...” The physical vibrations of Skylighght turn acoustics into intangible expressive energies through the performers’ dynamics and shared emphasis on breath; their interwoven resonances sculpt the compositions like a dance, with the two performers linked in movement of pitch and pulse. Moods on the album range from serene to yearning to discordant, often within a single composition, yet a sense of stillness is consistent from beginning to end. 

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Skylighght is an innovative album expressing a rare poetics of sound hinged on the union of musicians and environment. As physical vibrations radiate forth, rebound and combine, the performers coax their resonances and dynamics into intuitively felt energies. Stillness and discord alternately swell and subside in interlocked play with one another.