Crossing frontiers, hearing sounds and textures

The Big Question represents a new standard for avant-garde music, combining technology and soul, virtuosity and creativity. Manuel Borraz invites the audience to question and reflect on the nature of music and its ability to express the complexity of the human essence.

Recorded in 2021 and 2022 between Basel (Switzerland) and Madrid (Spain) at Anhell Studios, mixed and mastered by Shayan Fathi and produced by Manuel Borraz, The Big Question is a musical work that continues the path traced by its predecessor, Light Spectrum (2023), with the Dual Reality project. The band configuration remains consistent, but the album demonstrates an evident evolution towards more electronic musical styles. For this edition of The Big Question, he is joined on drums by Daniel Sáenz, Nico Mendoza, and Eric Valle. Manuel Borraz guides us through this unique exploration of the unknown, expanding the boundaries of experimental nu-jazz. It is, perhaps, unfortunate to apply such a label, given the instrumental and compositional virtuosity and the considerable number of influences evident in each composition. From the retro vision of Ancestors, through the symphonic passages of Individuality, the electronica is identified as a core element, showcased in the syncopated and audacious rhythms on You First and the progressive spirit of Little Answer. Hammond organ and Rhodes piano combination with a variety of synthesizers reveals a diverse range of textures, from the pop-inspired sounds of Stare the Ghost to the dreamlike ambience on Nervio. Borraz draws inspiration from a diverse range of sources and influences, infusing the record with an urban and avant-garde character. This is evident in compositions such as Nomads, Overload 765, and The Right Thing which sometimes features rock elements, ending up with the minimalist Fosforescencia.

News