Long Form

Here are four pieces, new and old, which fill their lengthy durations in different ways. Guitarist James Blackshaw's "Granite & Wineglass" is a meditative elaboration on a drone, in which time flows while standing still. Baird, Espvall, and Kraus' version of an old British folk song, "Willie of Winsbury," achieves its length by having a story to tell, and using many verses to tell it. The Incredible String Band's "White Bird" is an episodic suite with songs, interludes and returning themes. Animal Collective's Panda Bear has a new song, "Bros," which builds gradually with cascades of Beach Boys-style harmonies over a hypnotically varying minimalist accompaniment.

Baird, Espvall, and Kraus
James Blackshaw
The Incredible String Band
Panda Bear