Capturing Captivation : John Mailander’s Forecast “Let the World In”
Meditative, transcendent, transportive. It’s hard to listen to John Mailander’s arrangements and not use language that may come across as overdone or cliche. The difference being, that his work is truly deserving of such designations. ‘Let the World In’ is no exception and a pure celebration of creation, art and collaboration.
There is something so fluid, breath-like, alive and pulsating about John’s music. The candor, the authenticity is paralleled by none. His latest work under the banner of “Forecast” kicks in with a 17 second motif, an introduction of throbbing notes and resonant percussion orbiting. It could have been just a clip from the start of the day, but along with the playfulness and honesty of improvisation tracks, it lends itself to a sense of ‘being there’ in the room that most artists would never consider to put on an album for public consumption. It’s that ability to draw folks in that makes Mailander and his merry bunch of music makers so captivating, curious and endearing.
I don’t know that calling out specific tracks in a review (or whatever this article is) truly does service the project as a whole. It wouldn’t do service to the music as it is meant to be heard. It’s an experience. A journey. A ride. Something to be ingested as a whole. Sit down and allow the music to inhabit the space you are in. There are moments of smooth clarity and undulation that make you move and others of implied calamity and controlled chaos that under the correct hold, stays on the rails just enough to elicit intense feelings and emotion (look at you improvisation 1). It’s magical.
The Forecast band is the music and the music is the Forecast band. A perplexing continuity exists between instrument and creator. Laid back, flowing and beautiful. Rare is the case that a group of artists allow themselves to inhabit the work they are creating in such a profound way. There is bravery in the beauty of allowing the music to come and it takes artists with a certain command of their craft to do so in a way that is as brilliant and beguiling as the Forecast band.
This record is a prime example of the reason that (I personally believe) most musicians start creating music with others to begin with. That feeling that you can’t quite explain to folks that do not experience that for themselves, but Mailander and crew get the average listener about as close to understanding that feeling without picking up an instrument ourselves.
John Mailander’s Forecast’s Let The World In released into the world on Jan. 24. Get it today.
