Collected Pieces: 2015 - 2020

In addition to her stunning discography of solo albums and collaborative efforts with artists like Jeff Zeigler, Meg Baird, and Mac McCaughan, harpist Mary Lattimore has frequently issued stand-alone compositions online, including more abstract pieces that sometimes run for more than 15 or 20 minutes. Ghostly International gathered some of these recordings on the 2017 release Collected Pieces as well as a second volume in 2021. Collected Pieces: 2015-2020 condenses both compilations into a 68-minute listening experience that ranks among the best of Lattimores solo releases. Pieces like the marvelous "Wawa by the Ocean," with its cascading triplets and eventual rush of trippy effects, and the sweetly melancholic "For Scott Kelly, Returned to Earth," are already established as some of Lattimores most awe-inspiring work. Newer selections like "We Wave from Our Boats" and "Mary, You Were Wrong" are both mysterious and familiar, demonstrating Lattimores skill at creating gorgeous melodies while also transporting the listeners mind to a different place. "Be My Four Eyes" slowly unfolds over 13 minutes, delicately layering detached harp plucks and other textures until they swell into vast clusters, then bursting free as most of the sounds are reversed by the end. "We Just Found Out She Died" is far more uplifting than its title suggests, with accordion-like synths and angelic vocals accompanying the warm, slightly playful harp notes. The eerier "Polly of the Circus" is another choral-sounding piece, which sounds like its establishing communication with the other side. "The Warm Shoulder" is appropriately comforting, sounding like a theme for a spring homecoming. More than just odds and ends, Collected Pieces: 2015-2020 displays Lattimores versatility without giving away everything shes capable of as an artist, inspiring a deeper dive into her discography for those who are uninitiated, and a welcome revisit from established fans. ~ Paul Simpson