Ben Monder – Planetarium (2024) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Though the musical universe of guitarist Ben Monder is vast, the paths to his aural galaxies are rather solitary and arduous. It takes considerable time for Monder to create his unique, mind-bending recordings, as the practice, sculpting, and arranging can take years. His latest recording, Planetarium, is a prodigious piece of art that showcases the widest breadth of his vision as a composer and craftsman.

Monder is well known for his tremendous guitar contributions to a wide range of artists, including David Bowie, Maria Schneider, Guillermo Klein, and, most recently, as a member of The Bad Plus. Though he may be most celebrated for these contributions, his own projects deserve equal attention, as they are personal, large-scale works utilizing a select coterie of trusted associates.

Planetarium’s inception began in 2014 when Monder was awarded a grant from The Shifting Foundation to write and record an album. While that project ultimately took a different direction, work on this one would continue for the next ten years. The effort was thrust into high gear when the pandemic hit, as there were few distractions to composing and practicing. During this time, Monder also received a commission to compose what would become the ambitious piece, “Ataraxia.”

Tracklist:
1-01. Ben Monder – Ouroboros II (09:49)
1-02. Ben Monder – The Mentaculus (23:07)
1-04. Ben Monder – Li Po (06:41)
1-05. Ben Monder – Planetarium (10:51)
2-01. Ben Monder – Globestructures: Option II (15:00)
2-02. Ben Monder – Ataraxia (22:59)
2-03. Ben Monder – Onsulian Spring (09:29)
2-04. Ben Monder – Where or When (09:42)
3-01. Ben Monder – 3PSC (21:36)
3-02. Ben Monder – Urobo (00:59)
3-03. Ben Monder – Ouroboros I (10:03)
3-04. Ben Monder – Noctivagant (10:12)
3-05. Ben Monder – Collinsport (14:01)
3-06. Ben Monder – Wayfaring Stranger (01:09)