Under the Sun (Maya Shenfeld album)

Under the Sun is the second studio album by Berlin-based composer Maya Shenfeld, released on 23 February 2024 through Thrill Jockey. It received acclaim from critics.

Under the Sun
Various floral colours over an indistinct patterned gray background
Studio album by
Released23 February 2024 (2024-02-23)
GenreElectronic
Length39:15
LabelThrill Jockey
ProducerMaya Shenfeld
Maya Shenfeld chronology
In Free Fall
(2022)
Under the Sun
(2024)

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash8/10[2]
Mojo     [3]
Uncut8/10[4]

Under the Sun received a score of 84 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on four critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[1] Uncut described the album as "elemental and menacing",[4] while Mojo called it "an elegant, thought-provoking record".[3] Nick Roseblade of Clash found that Shenfeld has "expanded her sonic palate and used an old proverb 'there's nothing new under the sun' as a launch pad" as she "manages to coax new emotions from her synths that [others] couldn't".[2] Reviewing the album for The Quietus, Ian Opolot called it "a mirage that is every bit dazzling, piercing (at times haunting) in its use of synthesisers, organs and the distant-memory-like sound of the Ritter Youth Choir".[5]

Track listing

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Under the Sun track listing
No.TitleLength
1."A Guide for the Perplexed"7:12
2."Tehom"3:28
3."Geist"4:13
4."Interstellar"4:37
5."Light, Refracted"2:47
6."On Its Rounds the Wind Returns"5:40
7."Sedek"3:21
8."Analemma"7:57
Total length:39:15

Personnel

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  • Maya Shenfeld – composer, producer, mixing, modular synthesizers and electronics
  • Omer Idan – oboe
  • Gineke Pranger – recorders
  • Ann-Kristin Mayr – conductor (Youth Choir Ritterchor)
  • James Ginzburg – composer and producer (track 7)
  • Tadklimp – additional production (tracks 5, 6 and 8) and mixing
  • Rashad Becker – mastering
  • Gal Shenfeld – artwork
  • Daniel Castrejón – design

References

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  1. ^ a b "Under the Sun by Maya Shenfeld Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b Roseblade, Nick (12 February 2024). "Maya Shenfeld – Under the Sun | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Maya Shenfeld – Under the Sun". Mojo. March 2024. p. 86.
  4. ^ a b "Maya Shenfeld – Under the Sun". Uncut. February 2024. p. 35.
  5. ^ Opolot, Ian (20 February 2024). "Maya Shenfeld – Under the Sun". The Quietus. Retrieved 22 February 2024.