Mothertongue

The young composer Nico Muhly has amassed a string of commissions and premiers that would be notable for a composer twice his age: The Boston Pops, the BBC, American Ballet Theater, New York Public Library, Whitney Musuem and even a debut at Carnegie Hall. More intriguing to pop listeners, perhaps, are Muhly's contributions to projects by a striking constellation of modern musical icons: Rufus Wainwrights, Philip Glass, Antony, Bjork, Will Oldham, the National and more. Thankfully, MOTHERTONGUE's contents are more impressive than Muhly's resume. The title track is a mystery that grabs your attention with ambient chatter and soothes you with strident noise. Wonders collapses the distance between early music and music of the future. And The Only Tune is an exploded folk songs that stimulates your brain while tightening it's grip on your heart.