Stephan Micus | To the Rising Moon Review
by Illiam Sebitz
Stephan Micus’ latest album, To the Rising Moon, is a journey grounded in the earth’s oldest musical traditions, inspired by celestial wonders. His 26th release for ECM exemplifies his enduring devotion to musical storytelling through rare, culturally significant instruments. While his previous album, Thunder, invoked the primal roar of nature with its colossal Tibetan dung chen trumpet, To the Rising Moon finds Micus narrating with more introspective voices centered on strings and the human voice. The result is a collection of songs that flow as a hymn to stillness, reverence, and renewal.
Micus’ use of the Colombian tiple, introduced for the first time in his discography, introduces the main character of the project to set the tone. The opening track, “To the Rising Sun,” presents the tiple’s metallic shimmer in a cascading dialogue between two instruments. Its 12-string resonance creates a bright, almost meditative pulse. The strummed and plucked patterns form a drone-like foundation, recalling ancient tonalities, while the melody’s gentle ornamentations sparkle with Middle Eastern characteristics.
The contrast comes swiftly with “Dream Within Dream,” where six dilruba strings summon a soundscape of intrigue and mystery. Micus transforms this South Asian bowed instrument into something distinctly his own—its cello-like warmth achieved through experimental tuning and his affinity for lower registers. His sonic experimentation evokes a musical flow of introspection, inviting listeners into evolving labyrinthine corridors of bowed textures and colors.
“In Your Eyes” features Micus’ improvised vocals entwining with the tiple’s golden hum. Through his voice, he offers a new instrument color and emotive phrasing with melodic inflections that evoke the intimacy of a love song. The droning accompaniment underscores a modal progression, offering a sense of beauty and reflection.
“Waiting for the Nightingale” forms the album’s emotional center, combining Cambodian flutes, bowed strings, and a choir of voices in a reverent hymn to the natural world. The flutes hover in the background, emerging briefly like the nightingale’s ephemeral song before dissolving into the dense tapestry of sound. The pacing is unhurried, reinforcing Micus’ belief in music’s power to suspend time.
The closing title track, “To the Rising Moon,” serves as a culmination of the album’s duality. Here, the tiple’s bright plucked strings and the bowed instruments’ somber voices meet in harmonious dialogue, embodying the cosmic balance between light and shadow, day and night. As the last notes fade, there’s a lingering sense of timelessness—as though Micus has distilled the quiet mystery of the night sky into sound.
With To the Rising Moon, Micus’ work remains a distinct expression of cultural reverence and innovation. To the Rising Moon is a musical documentation of his skill in creating deeply personal soundscapes that transcend borders and time, offering a musical meditation on permanence amid chaos.
Artist: Stephan Micus
Album: To the Rising Moon
Label: ECM Records
Release Date: November 14, 2024
About the author

Illiam Sebitz
Born and raised in a picturesque European village, my fondness for music began during my formative years, when the charismatic tones of the recorder first filled the halls of my primary school. This early fascination escalated into my lifelong pursuit of embracing the melodious charm of the flute; I have even spent time refining my skills at a music conservatoire. As a seasoned music connoisseur, I find myself captivated by the multifaceted world of music. I enjoy writing music reviews to better enable me to explore genres as diverse as world, rock, jazz, classical, folk, and film music, each offering a unique auditory journey that enriches my life and intellect.
In my spare moments, you'll likely find me meticulously crafting my latest woodworking project, sharpening my skills with flute etudes, or inventing tales of fantasy through the art of creative writing. My eclectic interests and expertise harmonize to create a symphony of passion and curiosity that resonates within every aspect of my life as a music enthusiast.
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