KBCS

Cross-cultural music takes the spotlight in this edition of Flotation Device, driven by new albums from EunHo Chang, Lei Liang and Uwalmassa that draw on Korean, Chinese and Indonesian instruments and traditions. We sample new improv albums from Sana Nagano, the Bucher/Countryman duo and the Perch Hen Brock & Rain quartet that articulate their own cross-Atlantic perspectives, while Marcin Markowicz, Martin Smolka and Einar Torfi Einarsson offer a new slant on the bagatelle form.

We preview the forthcoming addition to Sarah Cahill’s The Future Is Female project with the premiere recording of a Pauline Oliveros composition that—uncharacteristically—uses conventional notation. And on the historical front we’ll say goodbye to Friedrich Cerha—and with him, the last connection to the great Darmstadt generation of European avant-gardists that included Berio, whose less-heralded abstract side is revealed in a somber masterpiece celebrating its 50th anniversary this week.

One last golden anniversary rounds out the playlist: an early Éliane Radigue electroacoustic epic that had just two people in the audience for its 1973 premiere. We’ll make up for that! Creative and improvised music from the Northwest and around the world with host Michael Schell.