Description
At the heart of "Sightings" lies a story of connection with the natural world, a theme born from encounters that are mystical and evasive. The album's central inspiration is the vireo, a bird whose song is often heard long before its form is seen. Jarboe reflects on the project: "The vireo is heard yet not easy to be seen as he blends into the green leaves. This is the heart of this project. I recorded this lively vireo one summer. One day, no longer hiding, he was on a branch a few feet away, and he captivated me every morning as I listened to the thousands of variations of his songs. I felt much joy and love as he sang. Later in the summer, another vireo appeared, and the two of them went up into the sky. Vireo was gone for a while, and then one morning, when I was outside, he returned to the nearby tree and sang before he and his friend circled in the air and left to begin their long journey back to South America." "Sightings" is an eclectic journey that seamlessly weaves together electronic and organic instrumentation. True to Jarboe's reputation as a "forward-thinking queen of unreality" (The Wire), the record features a wide range of musicians and soundscapes that transition from the dreamlike and ethereal to the aggressively experimental. From the variations of a bird's song to immersive ambient pieces, the album is a testament to Jarboe's "one-of-a-kind vocal talent". The album includes collaborators Thor Harris (Swans, Shearwater, Bill Callahan, Thor & Friends), Andrea Calderon, Brett Robinson, Chiara Lee and Freddie Murphy. The visual identity of "Sightings" is further deepened by a collaboration with fellow experimental icon Phil Puleo (Swans), who provided the original painting for the album's artwork. "Sightings" stands as the 36th solo album, and the 55th release overall, in Jarboe's career. The "true and genuine Pythia of the American underground" (Metal Italia), Jarboe is a multi-disciplinary artist. She and founder Michael Gira released some of the most musically extreme recordings of their time. While she had begun re-leasing solo material, she became more prolific after Swans, issuing numerous recordings and collaborations. Jarboe's creative endeavours span visual art, literature and theatre, positioning her as a singular,ever-evolving force in the arts
