“small circle calls to mind a broken radio. It’s centered on serrated white noise that seems to battle with lush pads, conjuring a twisted, smoggy haze. Samples writhe in the background, [bleeding] into one disorienting movement, which seems to linger in an uneasy universe removed from space and time.”
small circle, the latest work by Philadelphia-based ambient musician Jason Calhoun, begins with an offering. The listener is given a moment of quiet grace before being cast into an abyss of static, where clarity is foregone in place of a disorienting veil.
Calhoun’s work has always suggested the deeply personal while maintaining a certain distance, with each collection seemingly building upon the last, tangled with hidden truths and confessions. Entries are written and rewritten, intimate thoughts are quietly shared, providing a communal reflective space. In contrast to his previous two records, ben c, this is for you and notebook, tonal direction has been lost, but the harsh textures of ben c linger. The melodic is purposefully obscured, requiring a quieting of the mind.
small circle is confrontational in the same way that contemplative spiritual experience leaves nothing but one’s self to face. It is an expression of gestalt emotion, where impressions made are a passing blink amid an overwhelming divine emptiness. Chirps and clicks—of synthetic and natural origin—interweave with hushed conversations, steps winding through wooden trails, and the just-audible humming of a monastery. Suspended and devoid of sure footing, the listener is left to fend for themselves and find a path, if there is one.
The Ithaca-born musician has steadily released records since 2010, building a steady and loyal following for his consistent and unique poetics drawing on ambient and drone traditions. In addition to Dear Life, his music has been released on Patient Sounds Intl., Bridgetown Records, Florabelle Records, and Lily Tapes & Discs, among others. He’s also been a contributing part of various projects including Hour, ylayali, Katie Bejsiuk, and Obody.
Upcoming work includes joint album release with Moscow-based musician, Foresteppe, to be released on Florabelle in October 2024.
“small circle is a puzzling, atonal, meditative, and ultimately gorgeous sonic experience, and one that isn’t easily forgotten.”
“Although not necessarily loud in volume, [Calhoun’s] songs are piercingly honest and ring clear with the vulnerability of opening oneself up to true feelings.”