Quixotism (album)

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Quixotism
Quixotism (album).jpg
Studio album by
Oren Ambarchi
Released28 October 2014 (2014-10-28)
Recorded2012–2014 [1]
Studio
  • Cologne (Max Ernst)
  • Reykjavík (Harpa)
  • Melbourne
  • Seattle (Avast!)
  • London
  • Los Angeles (Cyclops Sound)
  • Tokyo (Steamroom) [1]
Length46:48
Label Editions Mego
Oren Ambarchi chronology
Sagittarian Domain
(2012)		Quixotism
(2014)		Hubris
(2016)

Quixotism is a studio album by Australian musician Oren Ambarchi. It was released on 28 October 2014, through Editions Mego. It received universal acclaim from critics. [2]

Contents

Background

Quixotism is Oren Ambarchi's first studio album on Editions Mego since Sagittarian Domain (2012). [3] The album consists of one continuous 47-minute piece divided up into five sections. [4] It was recorded in Cologne, Reykjavík, Melbourne, Seattle, London, Los Angeles, and Tokyo. [5] It features contributions from Thomas Brinkmann, Matt Chamberlain, Crys Cole, Eyvind Kang, Jim O'Rourke, John Tilbury, U-zhaan, Ilan Volkov, and the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra. [5]

The remastered edition of the album was released in 2024, through Black Truffle. [6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 81/100 [2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Exclaim! 9/10 [8]
Fact Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Resident Advisor 4.0/5 [10]
Tiny Mix Tapes Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic , Quixotism received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 81 out of 100 from 7 critic scores. [2]

Fred Thomas of AllMusic described the album as "one of Ambarchi's more involved and dense compositions, seeing the composer boil down more than two years' worth of recordings with dozens of collaborators into a single album in five parts." [7] Maya Kalev of Fact stated, "As its title suggests, Quixotism's narrative arc is obscure, and as such the album contains no real highlights or low points; instead, each part maintains a discrete identity of its own, serving both as groundwork for each subsequent part and the basis for its counterpoint." [9] She added, "Like so many of Ambarchi's recent works, Quixotism hinges on the tension between continuity and contradiction, perhaps more so than ever." [9]

Bryon Hayes of Exclaim! commented that "Quixotism is an exhilarating ride, from the extended fade-in introduction, through the bouncy percussion workout at mid-point, and onward to the snaking strings and electronics that lead to the album's conclusion." [8] He added, "The complexity, the subtle dynamics and the overall propulsive pulse of the music all nod toward the grace, restraint and talent of a visionary musician with boundless inspiration backed up by a host of musically proficient friends." [8] Andrew Ryce of Resident Advisor stated, "For an artist who has traditionally experimented with recording methods, Quixotism is another landmark, thanks largely to how natural it sounds in spite of its ambitious approach." [10]

Track listing

Quixotism track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Quixotism Part 1"17:58
2."Quixotism Part 2"4:09
3."Quixotism Part 3"6:58
4."Quixotism Part 4"2:59
5."Quixotism Part 5"14:44
Total length:46:48

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes. [1] [12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Oren Ambarchi (2014). Quixotism (CD booklet). Editions Mego.
  2. 1 2 3 "Quixotism by Oren Ambarchi". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  3. ↑ Currin, Grayson Haver; Masters, Marc (23 December 2014). "Experimental Artists of the Year 2014 (page 2 of 2)". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  4. ↑ Hudson, Alex (11 July 2014). "Oren Ambarchi Gets Matt Chamberlain, Jim O'Rourke for 'Quixotism'". Exclaim! . Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Oren Ambarchi releasing continuous piece recorded in recorded in Cologne, Reykjavik, Melbourne, Seattle, London, Los Angeles and Tokyo". The Wire . 9 July 2014. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "Quixotism (10th Anniversary Remaster) | Oren Ambarchi". Bandcamp . Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  7. 1 2 Thomas, Fred. "Quixotism - Oren Ambarchi". AllMusic . Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 Hayes, Bryon (5 March 2015). "Oren Ambarchi - Quixotism". Exclaim! . Archived from the original on 7 March 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 Kalev, Maya (20 November 2014). "Quixotism". Fact . Archived from the original on 11 December 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  10. 1 2 Ryce, Andrew (27 November 2014). "Oren Ambarchi - Quixotism". Resident Advisor . Archived from the original on 22 August 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  11. ↑ Phillips, Matthew. "Oren Ambarchi - Quixotism". Tiny Mix Tapes . Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  12. ↑ "Quixotism | Oren Ambarchi". Bandcamp . Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2025.

Further reading

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