Danica Hobden's Warmbluetig: It Was Long Ago, It Will Be a Long Time

Australian guitarist and composer Danica Hobden splits her time between her native land and Germany. In both countries she has surrounded herself with like minded musicians, which has resulted in two very distinct yet harmonious versions of her quartet, Warmbluetig. Her superb It Was Long Ago, It Will Be a Long Time features two recording sessions one with each group. The music, all penned by Hobden, is cinematic and stimulating.

As an example, "The Kraken," which concludes the session from Sydney (Side A on the LP), starts off with a tense mood. Drummer Chloe Kim's rattling percussion adds to Hobden's evocative strums, enhancing the dramatic ambience. The ensemble then collectively creates a poetic melody with tinges of melancholy. Kim's booming beats drive the tune while pianist Lauren Tsamouras lays down lyrical refrains. Bassist Harry Birch contributes intricate resonant lines, while Hobden adds a warm undercurrent with her simmering vamps. Both bisecting and ending this multilayered performance are two intimate duets, with Birch and Kim. These seamlessly emerge from the collective sound and highlight Hobden's understated style.

Equally memorable is the two part eponymous piece recorded in Hamburg (Side B on the LP). On the first track, Hobden's eloquent solo has hints of Spanish classical guitar. As the rest of the band enters, pianist Martín Zamorano mirrors Hobden's strums with his chiming keys. Bassist Henning Schiewer's bittersweet tones and drummer Joshua Weiß's sparse beats and cymbal splashes add a layer of intrigue.

This excitement continues in the second part, as Zamorano's block chords and Schiewer's reverberating strings, together with Weib's rumbling polyrhythms, create a thrilling cadence. Zamorano improvises with romanticism while Hobden lets loose incandescent phrases that glow with fiery passion. The exchanges between the leader and her side men are energetic, sometimes even riotous, and yet sublime camaraderie prevails.

Hobden has crafted interlinked originals that not only reflect her compositional skills but also bring out the best in all six of her colleagues. Thanks to her leadership, both quartets are delightfully collaborative and the interpretations dynamic and captivating. These attributes make It Was Long Ago, It Will Be a Long Time one of the best debuts of 2024.