Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Purchasable with gift card
$7USD or more
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
This beautiful gatefold package was designed by Christie Evenson and features photography by Nick Zoulek. Inside you'll find those all-important liner notes, so you'll know exactly how the magic happens.
Includes unlimited streaming of Is This ~Nois
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
1. Albumblatt II by Hans Thomalla
2. Dismantle by Craig Davis Pinson
3. Vaisseau Fantôme by Niki Harlafti
4. Intercepting a Shivery Light by Marcos Balter
5. Apertures by Mathew Arrellin
6. Consort for Four Detuned Soprano Saxophones by David Reminick
Is this ~Nois? We’ve been asking ourselves that same question since we started playing music in 2016. After trying to answer it for a while, we realized that we never really want to find the answer. If you’re doing it right, the answer changes every day. So here it is — the answer we decided to put onto some hard drives over the course of three days in September 2018. We met in graduate school at Northwestern University, so it made sense that our first album should come from that same special place. Hans, Dave, and Marcos already had wonderful pieces that inspired us and we asked Craig, Niki, and Mathew to write us pieces that would push us into new ways of thinking about the saxophone. So, we leave it in your hands (or, better yet, ears): is this ~Nois?
Our sincerest gratitude to the following folks:
Our families: Rick and Mary Bockes, Joe and Janet Lulloff, Ian and Michelle O’Shea, Doodle and Renee Quarles, Tyler and Sheree Quarles, and Donald and Virginia Ward.
Taimur Sullivan for always being an inspiration, mentor, and friend.
Hans, Craig, Niki, Marcos, Mathew, and Dave for entrusting us with your music.
John Bierbusse for going above and beyond to support not only this project, but also our whole career.
Buck Waters for your generosity and support.
The 160 people who donated to our Indiegogo campaign. This one’s for you!
Frank for always rooting for us.
Zane, wherever you may be, you wild and free spirit.
The Chicago music community.
Collectivo Coffee for being the de facto ~Nois HQ
Dan Nichols for your audio wizardry.
Nick Zoulek for these incredible photos.
Christie Evenson for the fantastic design.
Northern Illinois University for the gracious use of Boutell Memorial Concert Hall.
credits
released June 26, 2020
Recorded September 1-3, 2018 at Northern Illinois University’s Boutell Memorial Concert Hall
Produced by Dan Nichols, Hunter Bockes, János Csontos, Jordan Lulloff, and Brandon Quarles
Engineered by Dan Nichols
Mixed and mastered by Dan Nichols
~Nois is:
Brandon Quarles, soprano saxophone (alto saxophone on track 2)
Hunter Bockes, alto saxophone (soprano saxophone on tracks 3, 4, and 6)
Jordan Lulloff, tenor saxophone (soprano saxophone on tracks 3 and 6, alto saxophone on tracks 2 and 4)
János Csontos, baritone saxophone (soprano saxophone on track 6, alto saxophone on tracks 2, 3, and 4)
Photography by Nick Zoulek
Design by Christie Evenson
Liner Notes by Brandon Quarles
~Nois is a Chicago-based saxophone quartet making music on the boundary of contemporary classical music and improvisation. Think *NSYNC meets John Zorn and you are probably close to the right thing...
Nathalie and Spektral Quartet is the Chicago New Music super hero team of our dreams and this record is a dream come true. It's a deeply moving and personal album. You need this in your life. ~Nois
Gemma is one of our very best friends and this was the first music by her that we ever heard. It's so hauntingly beautiful and it's stunningly recorded by the great Mike Tierney. ~Nois
Ratboys is one of our favorite Chicago bands and their newest release is full of incredible songs."Alien With a Sleep Mask On" is guaranteed to get your head banging. ~Nois
