I released a nearly 8-minute experimental folk song on May 22nd, and it intersected with some things. In June, Lolabelle invited me as their featured performer at One Longfellow Square where they have a residency. In July, I played a solo show with Jes and a duo version of Chico States (Joe + Ella on violin). At both of those shows I did songs in the improv/compositional style of this long single.

A few people reviewed it! But perhaps my favorite quote comes from Javier Reyes (aka Santiago), an active participant at Subvert co-op. The song is exclusive to Subvert, a project I care about a lot and which seeks to bring ownership of platforms to artists themselves. In his collection North American Hits, he wrote:

This is the most oblique and cubist perception of a hit that I’ve experienced. Everything not in its right place. And yet, you can tell there’s a song behind, scattered in beautiful small pieces.

Thank you Javier!

Another exciting “review” came from our local alt-weekly in Portland, The Bollard. Chris Busby put together an odd poetic collage, juxtaposing Oliver Wendell Holmes, my words about co-ownership, and others’ thoughts on platform malaise to evoke an implicit point—a method of open structuring not unlike the song’s.

AnEarful, a great blog out of New York, wrote:

“For over eight minutes, Silver, aided by Christy Armstrong (drum programming) and Tolly Kaiser (bassoon), seems to assemble the song’s many layers in front of your ears. As he plays angular acoustic guitar, his halting attempts to ‘articulate my perspective’ are strangely moving.”

If you haven’t heard the song yet, you can listen at Subvert here: https://www.subvert.fm/alex-silver/tracks/let-me-be-a-friend-for-lost-time

My collections, all with write-ups on music I’ve found this year: songs less off-sync with the shuddering landscape, First Library w/ Commentary, Second Library w/ Commentary.