Planetary Unknown
David S. Ware · 2011
72 min · 7 tracks · jazz
An expansive avant-garde journey blending spiritual jazz with intricate improvisation and deep sonic exploration.
Top tracks — play these first
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Passage Wudang — This nearly 22-minute track serves as an epic exploration of sound, showcasing Ware's mastery of the saxophone and his ability to create immersive atmospheres that blend spirituality with musical conversation.
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Duality Is One — In this piece, contrasting melodic lines intertwine, reflecting the album's theme of unity through duality, revealing Ware's lyrical approach to improvisation.
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Divination — This track exemplifies Ware's deep connection with spiritual themes in music, utilizing rhythmic complexity and evocative melodies to guide listeners into reflective states.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
InstrumentalThe album showcases intricate improvisation and a seamless flow, marking it as a significant work in Ware's career.
What we noticed
- The album features extended tracks, with each piece averaging over seven minutes, allowing for deep improvisational exploration.
- Each track transitions smoothly into the next, creating a continuous flow that enhances the immersive experience.
- Ware's saxophone often engages in call-and-response with the other instruments, creating a dynamic interplay throughout the record.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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9/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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9/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- wave-like ebb and flow
- spiritual exploration through sound
- immersive journey of discovery
- meditative focus on nuance
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification
- seek concise standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2011, Planetary Unknown marks David S. Ware's final album before his passing in 2012, encapsulating his decades-long evolution as a pioneering figure in free jazz. At this point in his career, Ware had already established himself with a distinctive sound characterized by intense saxophone performances and complex compositions, making this album a significant culmination of his artistic vision.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Matthew Shipp· Sun Ra· Ornette Coleman
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Passage Wudang 21:56
- 2 Shift 7:34
- 3 Duality Is One 7:00
- 4 Divination 9:27
- 5 Crystal Palace 3:40
- 6 Divination Unfathomable 9:26
- 7 Ancestry Supramental 13:25
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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