Nucultures

At a time when artists and labels are downsizing, this group of Philadelphia artists have ramped it up and released an ambitious 2 CD set — “Butterflies, Zebras, and Moonbeams” on 1k recordings. This adventurous collection of music is a kaleidoscope of songs and sound blending shapes and hues with vocals, horns, strings, piano, drum machines, vocal loops, guitars, bass, and left-field electronics into a brilliant textured soundscape of modern pop music.

From three perspectives, lyrically and vocally, “Butterflies, Zebras, and Moonbeams” delves into questions of love, war, darkness, despair, light, and hope. musically it’s an eclectic 21 song journey with acoustic guitars ruminating over electronic and tabla beats; the shimmering vocal downtempo tone-poems of Ellie Perez; the dark foreboding jazz of “Babylon Is Crying”; upright pianos floating over languid grooves of “Think I’m Losin’ It” and the wind swept desert guitar musings of “Mind Dunes.”

“Butterflies, Zebras, and Moonbeams” features stellar guest contributions from trumpeter John Swana, cellist Helena Espvall, and Brooklyn drummer Jeremy Carlstedt, among many others.

“Butterflies, Zebras, and Moonbeams” is a stunning collection of songs with some obvious electronic components…but it’s organic at heart.

“Butterflies, Zebras, and Moonbeams” is released August 7 on 1K recordings

Produced by Tim Motzer for 1k recordings