For over thirty years, Eyvind Kang has explored the blurred edges between composer, performer, and listener. On Riparian, he offers one of his most intimate and focused works to date: two longform pieces for viola d’amore, improvised within microtonal systems he developed during the pandemic.

Kang refers to this improvisational method as “Riparian,” evoking the image of a river crossed in multiple directions—fluid, nonlinear, and alive with subtle variation. “I thought of pizzicato and arco like stepping from rock to rock in a stream,” he says. “There’s a grounded randomness, like a frog or turtle moving between land and water.”

Each piece on Riparian is a first take, recorded in the studio as part of what Kang calls “a kind of storytelling among like-minded friends.” The result is music that flows with quiet intensity and emotional clarity, unfolding melodies that feel both ancient and vividly present.

Produced and recorded by Randall Dunn (SUNN O))), Omar Souleyman, Kali Malone), Riparian captures the full resonance of the viola d’amore in rich, dimensional sound. Dunn’s touch brings warmth and transparency to Kang’s lyrical phrasing, revealing subtle sonic textures that reward deep listening.

At once meditative and expressive, Riparian invites the listener into a space where time softens and sound becomes a mode of attunement.

1. Riparian A
2. Riparian B