Take a city in northern England called Leeds, gather 16 dedicated musicians around bassist and composer Ozzy Moysey, add a 13-member choir, get them all involved, and record the whole thing. The result? It’s Always About Liberation.

Of course, you could have seen it coming. A little over a year ago, the ensemble released It’s All About Love, featuring 8 songs and a running time of 39:45. This time around, there are six tracks and 50 seconds less music. But that’s no loss. Not at all.

The music of the Ancient Infinity Orchestra can be understood as melody-driven improvisation, and in fact, it sounds less like a composition and more like a collaborative conversation. Ostinato bass figures and handclaps, enriched with diverse percussion interludes, form the foundation for saxophone solos, as in Celebrating the Beautiful Lineage of Sound & Hypnotic States. Or plucked strings that give space to a violin figure with Arabic-sounding harmonics, as in Nafas. Or a dialogue between saxophones on one side and other wind instruments on the other, layered over harp-like harmonics and bass figures, as in Triton.

Thematically, the album deals with liberation, with the album title—like that of its predecessor—tracing back to a quote by the musician Moor Mother: “It’s always about love / It’s always about liberation.” And while the first album explored love as a means of healing, this one understands liberation as a quest for freedom, clarity, and deeper connection—which works quite well in the musical interplay.

Acoustically, the album is very open. The music reaches far—across the stage and into its depth, as well as into the listening space. The mix is also excellent in other respects, especially given the ensemble’s expansive scale. Even with energetic playing, shrill highs are just as rare as muddy, washed-out bass. Each instrument is finely balanced and integrated, presented with precise positioning and thus easily discernible. Excellent.

It’s Always About Liberation is an acoustic experience that evolves into an encounter when the speakers are properly aligned. And that’s something you should treat yourself to. Don’t miss this album. (Thomas Semmler, HighResMac)

Ancient Infinity Orchestra