THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The title of Thurston Moore’s new album Flow Critical Lucidity comes from a lyric in the single Sans Limites, featuring vocals by Lætitia Sadier of Stereolab. “Sans Limites begins with a cyclic guitar & piano figure which expands further and further with each revolution before settling into a two-chord measure introducing lyrics intoning not only about eradicating any limitations towards enlightenment, but going beyond limitations. The idea that a soldier can fight the good fight. A warrior against war,” Moore explains.
Moore recorded the song with his group — Deb Googe (bass), Jem Doulton (percussion), James Sedwards (guitar and piano) and Jon Leidecker (electronics) — with additional backing vocals by Sadier. “Grow up to the stars / Speak to infinity,” Thurston sings over piano and guitar. Sans Limites follows three previously released singles from the album — the energetic Isadora Duncan-inspired Isadora with a video starring Sky Ferreira, the cerebral Hypnogram and the stirring Earth Day anthem Rewilding.
Some of the songs from Moore’s ninth solo recording were written and arranged in Europe and The United Kingdom — including lyrical references to their environments inspired by nature, lucid dreaming, modern dance and Isadora Duncan. The album was arranged at La Becque in Switzerland and recorded at Total Refreshment Studios in London in 2022, and mixed at Hermitage Studios in London with Margo Broom in 2023.
The album sleeve cover art features Jamie Nares’ Samurai Walkman, a helmet befitted with tuning forks. Born in Great Britain, Nares is a lifelong friend of Moore from his New York No Wave days, the two often collaborating in art and music.
Moore moved to New York at age 18 in 1976 to play punk. He started Sonic Youth in 1980. Since then, he has been at the forefront of the alternative rock scene since that particular sobriquet was first used to signify any music that challenged and defied the mainstream standard. With Sonic Youth, Moore turned on an entire generation to the value of experimentation in rock. He records and performs in a cavalcade of disciplines ranging from free improvisation to acoustic composition to black/white metal/noise disruption. He has worked with Phill Niblock, John Paul Jones, Yoko Ono, John Zorn, Bobby Gillespie, David Toop, Cecil Taylor, Faust, Glenn Branca and many others.”
