In troubled times, music can offer a perspective on what’s going on, or it can be an antidote. Ora aspires to the latter effect, and it delivers the goods. The latest recording by veteran Canadian guitarist Ayal Senior signals its intent by opening with a harmonium drone punctuated by chimes. This centering introduction gives way to “Upside Dawn,” on which a patiently fingered pattern sets the stage for an unhurried rhythm articulated by two percussionists and bass, over which electric guitarist Kurt Newman makes flickering, effects-laden figures dance like a memory of last night’s fireflies.
This establishes a division of duties that persists throughout Ora. Senior may be the bandleader and composer, but he’s more concerned with framing the big picture than he is hogging the spotlight. Switching between Fripp-descended fuzztones and sinuous steel licks, Newman is the lead voice throughout, imparting an updated West Coast psychedelic vibe with a bit of a woozy slouch to it. The rhythms, simultaneously deliberate and intricate, not only ensure that he doesn’t fall over, they also invite the listener to lean on them like an old friend.
Pro tip: While the LP is a thing of beauty, find a way to pick it up paired with a download. In a final act of amity, the digital edition comes full circle with a bonus drone that extends the album’s length by 17 blissful minutes. [Medusa Editions]
—Bill Meyer
