Unfall by Dan Kinzelman

We’ve been placed on a sled with no brakes and no track, forced to witness an accelerating change in scenery leaving us less sure of where we’re headed than ever before. The seemingly random and uncontrolled phenomena we witness in our political, economic, and cultural environments mirror the eerie tones of Unfall by Dan Kinzelman, a jazz ensemble record haunted by the uneven repetition of tape loops. Melodies chase their own tails simultaneously, constantly bumping into each other and swerving along their paths as their purpose feels increasingly unclear. Some of these snippets could create anthems if divorced from their ghastly dance, while others only exist to increase tension regardless of their potential context. We’re left wondering just how much of what we hear derives from chance and which of these interactions originate at an orchestrating hand, as rare moments of perfect harmony only put us further on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop. On this slope, no peace comes with a guarantee, and no ending comes with the promise of positivity.