Last week, Fatima Al Qadiri, the Senegal-born, Kuwait-raised, and Brooklyn-living conceptual electronic musician, released her new album, “Asiatisch,” which Sasha Frere-Jones writes about today. The tracks entwine contemporary Eastern sounds and samplings of classical Chinese poetry. As Al Qadiri and I walked through Chinatown together on a recent afternoon, she spoke of our misdirected, modern inclinations to blur the distinct cultures of Asian countries, and give them the untextured label of “Asian.” It’s this concept that she explores in the album’s tracks, one of which you’ll hear in the video above.
Goings On
What we’re watching, listening to, and doing this week, online, in N.Y.C., and beyond. Paid subscribers also receive book picks.
Comma Queen
A Musical for—and About—Grammar Sticklers
“The Angry Grammarian” asks whether two lovebirds can overcome differing opinions on the Oxford comma.
By Mary Norris
Musical Events
The Escher Quartet and Igor Levit Test Musical Limits
The chamber ensemble played all six of Bartók’s string quartets, and the pianist played devilishly difficult transcriptions of symphonic scores by Mahler and Beethoven.
By Alex Ross
Goings On
Kim Gordon Is at the Peak of Her Powers
Also: Adventurous shows at Carnegie Hall, “The Effect” at the Shed, and more.