Chloe Kim 김예지 – I Love and Embrace

In her third studio album, jazz drummer Chloe Kim 김예지 expands her interest in improvisation and self-accompaniment. The mini-album is a sonic exaltation of playfulness and experimentation; pitched percussion comes together in layers to create a loping, easy to listen to soundscape. Though the instrumentals may feel unstructured at first, the diverse sounds come together in the evocative and immersive track Tiki-Taka on Drums.

Kim's drumming is occasionally distilled into rhythms that are reminiscent of Korean samul nori, a genre of folk music that features varied percussion. These roots mix well with Kim's jazz background. Technical precision gives Kim the freedom to find new and challenging ways to take the listener on a trance-like journey. Kim's playing has a breath-like quality – the tempo ebbs and flows, and sounds swell as they are layered amid each other. 

I Love and Embrace is a masterclass in versatility. It is equal parts frenetic, organic, and meditative. It takes the listener on a personal odyssey, honouring both the artist and the art form. Listen through the highest quality headphones you have: the album is a feast of percussive minutiae, and every beat tells a critical part of the story. 

Listen to: My Arrhythmias, Clear, Simple but Strong Ideas