In 2011, ambient musician Julianna Barwick visited on her acclaimed album THE MAGIC PLACE. In 2026 she will return to this place, but not alone: with her will be the harpist Mary Lattimore, who achieved her breakthrough in 2020 with the album THE SILVER LADDER, produced by Neil Halstead (Slowdive). The shared departure into the hoped-for magic had a tragic reason: their shared hometown of Los Angeles was threatened by fires.
Barwick and Lattimore fled to Paris, where they recorded the seven pieces from TRAGIC MAGIC in the Philharmonie. The music was inspired by the collection of old instruments in the Philharmonic, which was made available to the two of them. In interaction with Barwick’s electronic structures, music is created that is completely detached from anything earthly.
Barwick and Lattimore don’t lose themselves in cosmic ambient areas: a piece like “Meltet Moon” is very rhythmic and could also be played as a dance track. Atmospheric highlight: The cover version of “Rachel’s Song” from the “Blade Runner” soundtrack by Vangelis, with a whistled melody like Morricone and an 18th century harp.
This review appears in Musikexpress 2/2026.