| Cloudward | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | January 19, 2024 | |||
| Studio | Sear Sound, New York City, US | |||
| Length | 47:33 | |||
| Label | Nonesuch | |||
| Producer | John Dieterich | |||
| Mary Halvorson chronology | ||||
| ||||
Cloudward is an album by American jazz composer and guitarist Mary Halvorson, released on January 19, 2024, through Nonesuch Records. It was recorded with her sextet Amaryllis, produced by John Dieterich, and received acclaim from critics.
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 86/100 [1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| The Guardian | [3] |
| PopMatters | 9/10 [4] |
| Uncut | 8/10 [5] |
Cloudward received a score of 86 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on five critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [1] Uncut characterized it as "a knottily intricate yet oddly inviting album". [5] Thom Jurek of AllMusic wrote that "these eight compositions differ somewhat from those on Amaryllis, though they remain easily identifiable as Halvorson's" and felt that "she offers more blank and interactive spaces on Cloudward". [2] The Quietus ' Lottie Brazier called it "rich and increasingly organic-sounding" as well as "upbeat, curious, and inquisitive" and "a great city walking album". [6]
John Fordham of The Guardian described it as "a superb eight-piece set" on which "Halvorson's fusions of written and spontaneous music reach an entrancing new seamlessness and seductive warmth". [3] Chris Ingalls of PopMatters stated that Cloudward "doesn't necessarily see [Halvorson] breaking new ground – it's the second album she's recorded with this sextet – but from a compositional and improvisational standpoint, it sees her continuing to hone and perfect her artistic excellence". [4]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Gate" | 4:32 |
| 2. | "The Tower" | 8:08 |
| 3. | "Collapsing Mouth" | 5:55 |
| 4. | "Unscrolling" | 5:19 |
| 5. | "Desiderata" | 6:36 |
| 6. | "Incarnadine" | 4:12 |
| 7. | "Tailhead" | 4:35 |
| 8. | "Ultramarine" | 8:16 |
| Total length: | 47:33 | |
| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Album Downloads (OCC) [7] | 71 |
Mary Halvorson is an American avant-garde jazz composer and guitarist from Brookline, Massachusetts.
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