The release of this classic from Hassell’s back catalogue sets the scene for his brand new studio album…
Trumpet player and composer Jon Hassell is reissuing his 1977 debut LP Vernal Equinox this March—via his own record label, Ndeya—ahead of a new album set to release this summer. Remastered from the original tapes, the album will be available on vinyl for the first reissue of the album in its 42 year history. To celebrate the return to vinyl, both Hassell and Brian Eno have contributed sleeve notes.
Originally released in 1977 on Lovely Music, Hassell used Vernal Equinox to coin a new musical style – later referred to as ‘Fourth World’ – by combining field recordings with jazz, ambient and Indian classical music. Hassell described the new musical aesthetic as “‘a unified primitive/futuristic sound combining features of world ethnic styles with advanced electronic techniques. The album featured an array of prodigious musicians including percussionist Naná Vasconcelos and David Rosenboom on synths.
The reissue comes ahead of Hassell’s new album Seeing Through Sound (Pentimento Volume Two), the follow up to his 2018 Part One.