Rough Magic by Roomful of Teeth

On May 5, 2023, GRAMMY-winning vocal band Roomful of Teeth — a “remarkable” (New York Times) “experimental group that is changing what it means to harmonize” (The New Yorker) and “gleefully dismantling the traditional definition of ensemble singing right before our ears” (NPR) — releases their long-awaited new album, Rough Magic. The record, premieres recordings of four works created for and (significantly) with the group, is an explosive departure from their previous recordings, leading listeners into the beauty and boundaries of language while showcasing, once again, the band’s unwavering commitment to expanding the scope of vocal music. From high-gloss, 80s-style synth-charged passages to early Steve Reich tape-piece-type sounds, Rough Magic articulates a grand experience of language, its frailty, and its rapturous — if darkly mysterious — magic. The album won the 2024 GRAMMY Award for Best Small Ensemble/Chamber Music.

Tracklist

1.	Psychedelics: I. Deep Blue (You Beat Me) // William Brittelle	4:40

2.	Psychedelics: II. I am the Watchtower // William Brittelle	4:45

3.	Psychedelics: IIl. My Apothecary Light // William Brittelle	5:38

4.	None More Than You // Eve Beglarian (feat. Eve Beglarian and The Dessoff Choir)	8:19

5.	The Isle: I. Prologue // Caroline Shaw	2:35

6.	The Isle: II. Ariel // Caroline Shaw	5:50

7.	The Isle: III. Caliban // Caroline Shaw	2:47

8.	The Isle: IV. Prospero // Caroline Shaw	1:27

9.	The Isle: V. Epilogue // Caroline Shaw	2:06

10.	Bits torn from words: I. Reach across oceans (intro) // Peter S. Shin	3:00

11.	Bits torn from words: II. I'm terrible at making decisions (refrain) // Peter S. Shin	1:58

12.	Bits torn from words: IIl. Notice how your body spreads like water (post-refrain) // Peter S. Shin	3:24

13.	Bits torn from words: IV. GaNaDaRaMaBaSa AJaChaKaTaPaHa (bridge) // Peter S. Shin	4:19

14.	Bits torn from words: Vl. If __________ did happen, how bad would it be? (outro) // Peter S. Shin	5:09

Credits

released May 5, 2023

Roomful of Teeth:

Estelí Gomez
Martha Cluver
Caroline Shaw
Eliza Bagg
Virginia Kelsey
Eric Dudley
Thann Scoggin
Dashon Burton
Cameron Beauchamp

Brad Wells, Founder and Co-Artistic Director
Cameron Beauchamp, Co-Artistic Director

Rough Magic:

Album Art by Jon Verney
Recorded at Studio9, MASS MoCA and The Hive
Mixed at The Hive
Recording Engineer - Randall L. Squires
Mixing Engineer - Zach Hanson
Mastered by Randall L. Squires
Produced by William Brittelle
Additional production by Brad Wells and Cameron Beauchamp
Editing - Randall Squires
Additional recording and initial mix of None More Than You by Jeff Cook
Synths - Eric Dudley, William Brittelle

Psychedelics composed by William Brittelle
None More Than You composed by Eve Beglarian
The Isle composed by Caroline Shaw
Bits torn from words composed by Peter S. Shin

License