Just under a year ago, Bing & Ruth got the old ensemble back together for one night in New York, to revisit City Lake—the 2010 LP experiencing a second life via reissue on RVNG Intl. Together with the label and (Le) Poisson Rouge, we were honored to help pull off this reunion.
On stage surrounding composer/pianist David Moore was a spread of performers on clarinet, cello, bass, lap steel, tape delay, percussion, and vocals. Most striking, perhaps, was the collective restraint. Each musician waited stoically, meditating ahead of their next movement, be it a nuanced pluck or hum. Every note had purpose. A sublime minimalism, with a mesmerizing, maximal effect, swelling to its climax on the album’s title track. This moment was recorded by Q2 Music, along with the calm that followed on “Broad Channel/A Little Line In A Round Face” and “Here’s What You’re Missin.” All prefaced with a thoughtful series of interviews.
Much thanks to Q2 for providing this path back.