Avant-garde composer William Basinski returns to solo work with Passing the Cup of Sorrows, a new piano composition and his first solo endeavor since 2020. The record will be released on October 23 via Temporary Residence, an indie label home to artists like Explosions In The Sky and Eluvium.

Along with the album announcement, Basinski shared an excerpt of the single 40-minute piece, called “Passing the Cup of Sorrows 1.1.” Listen below:

In typical Basinski style, the excerpt sounds like the periphery of a dream — an in-between state that demands attention and consolation. He credits a concept called "Life Between Lives" for inspiring the title of the record. The concept stems from past-life regression hypnotherapy, where it explores a sacred exchange of energy between two spirits that work towards forgiveness, otherwise known as "passing the cup of sorrows."

Basinski is headed out on tour in support of the record, across the US and Europe. See those dates down below.

Passing the Cup of Sorrows is out October 23. Preorder here.

Tour Dates:

09/13 - Poznan, PL @ Opera Festival
09/16 - Helsinki, FI @ Espoo Cultural Centre
09/19 - Belgrade, RS @ Teatar 78
09/21 - Prague, CZ @ Heartnoize x Gabriel Loci
09/23 - Bruxelles, BE @ Bozar
09/25 - Vilnius, LT @ St. Catherine Church
11/08 - Washington, DC @ Bette at Bertha
11/09-11 - Brooklyn, NY @ Durations at Public Records 
11/13 - Detroit, MI @ Cathedral Church of St. Paul *
11/14 - Chicago, IL @ Rockefeller Memorial Chapel *
* performing with Windy & Carl, Purelink

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