On May 5, 2023, GRAMMY-winning vocal band Roomful of Teeth ― a “remarkable” (New York Times) “experimental group that is changing what it means to harmonize” (The New Yorker) and “gleefully dismantling the traditional definition of ensemble singing right before our ears” (NPR) ― releases their long-awaited new album, Rough Magic. The record, premiere recordings of four works created for and (significantly) with the group, is an explosive departure from their previous recordings, leading listeners through the beauty and struggle of language while showcasing, once again, the band’s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of vocal music. From high-gloss, 80s-style synth-charged passages to early Steve Reich tape-piece-type sounds, Rough Magic articulates a grand experience of language, its limits, and its rapturous ― if not darkly mysterious ― magic.
