It’s very rare for this to happen. But when it does, something magical happens, something that goes beyond the beauty of the composition, the purity of the performance, or the virtuosity. My late friend Keith Tippett called this magic Mujician. It had happened with him several times. With few others. This quintet plays intuitive, spontaneous music, and the communion of spirit, of intent, the spirituality that this music releases is engaging on a higher, unapproachable level.

The music on this album is indescribable. It transcends paths and trails, paints imaginary soundscapes, penetrates sidereal spaces, whispers of infinite possibilities. No patterns, no rehearsals, no preconceptions: Annie’s singing flows pure like a mountain spring, soaring over the arcane melodies of Markus and Fabio, where cascades of Fabrizio’s liquified and crystalline notes, brimming with knowledge, cascades of sound whose subterranean rhythm is described by the pulsing of Francesco’s skins. All this in an aura of indescribable grace that moved us as we recorded, knowing that the music was greater than the sum of the musicians. This is Dark Companion’s first double album and definitely one of our finest productions, of which we are truly proud.

I am so lucky and grateful to Markus and the band who, I am sure, will play more magic on a theatre near you.

Max Marchini