Jessica Moss’s Unfolding is an accomplished, highly relevant album. It moves from intense emotional abstraction to explicit political soundscapes, culminating in a stunning multitracked hymn to hope. Montreal has long been a hub of exceptional music, with an alternative scene capable of producing internationally acclaimed acts while remaining close-knit enough to foster collaborations. At its heart lies a loose, amorphous post-rock collective often associated with Thee Silver Mt. Zion. This group emerged from Montreal heavyweights Godspeed You! Black Emperor and furthered the careers of cellist Rebecca Foon (Esmerine), Eric Craven (Hangedup), and Constellation Records head Ian Ilavsky. Other affiliates include Arcade Fire drummer Howard Bilerman and avant-garde saxophonist Colin Stetson. For two decades, Jessica Moss has been central to the Mt. Zion sound and to experimental klezmer offshoot Black Ox Orkestar. The violinist and occasional vocalist injects a modernistic, often compositional approach into post-rock, and on Unfolding, her sixth solo album since 2015’s Under Plastic Island, she dives deeper into drone and longform ambient soundscapes. The album’s first side features two long tracks.
“Unfolding” traverses landscapes of drone and restrained intensity, balancing sorrow and resilience while expanding the vocabulary of violin-driven ambient post-rock.
Musically, Unfolding builds on Moss’s previous work, sharpening emotional and thematic anchors. The album is characterized by extended, slowly unfurling structures, where violin lines weave through atmospheric textures and patient rhythms. Contributions from collaborators add to the textural depth, reinforcing the sense of a cohesive suite rather than a collection of individual pieces. The work is not merely a sonic exploration but also a testimony to endurance and hope, culminating in moments that feel both intimate and expansive.
Author’s note: Unfolding is a quietly powerful entry in Moss’s catalog, marking a pivotal moment in her solo career where drone, composition, and emotional gravitas coalesce into a singular, contemplative statement of persistence and possibility.
Author’s resume (en 120–200 chars): A focused, emotionally charged exploration of drone and longform ambient soundscapes, blending Moss’s violin with sparse textures into a hopeful, contemplative post-rock suite.