Emily Bezar — Vista (2025)
Vista (2025) finds American musician, producer, and composer Emily Bezar at a crucial vantage point. Through this exceptional, masterfully crafted album, she reflects on two defining periods of her life separated by two decades. The double album serves as both personal document and impressive compositional statement. Part I, Radial Mind, chronicles pandemic-era isolation, while Part II, Secteur, turns inward even further, revisiting a 2003 episode of psychotic mania through an extended instrumental form. Together, they form a striking study in musical contrast and continuity.
To begin with, Radial Mind (tracks 1–11) presents Bezar as world-class vocalist. The influences here include progressive-leaning rock, contemporary jazz, and western classical traditions. The songs rotate unpredictably, guided by Bezar’s distinctive, exquisite, nuanced and richly varied vocal phrasing and an ear for intricate, inventive arrangements. Although others have mentioned echoes of Kate Bush and Tori Amos, I’m more inclined to see similarities with Sonja Kristina (Curved Air) and Joni Mitchell. These influences surface in the emotional intensity and pianistic foundation.
Meanwhile, Secteur (tracks 12–18) presents a decisive shift. As her first long-form instrumental work, this seven-part electronic tone poem abandons the voice entirely. Instead, Bezar relies on meticulously designed, beautifully crafted synthesizer sounds and evolving structures. The result is a mix of ambient electronic drones and lush atmospheres, captivating melodies, spellbinding passages and cathartic conclusions.
Bassist and guitarist Brian Mesko and drummer Jason Hoffheins provide a multifaceted and agile rhythmic foundation on Radial Mind.
Bezar supplements Vista with a mini-memoir and a selection of visual artwork created during her 2003 hospitalizationd.
Over a career spanning more than thirty years, Bezar has cultivated a body of work that defies easy categorization. Her background, rooted in western classical training, enriched by jazz, electronic music, and pop, continues to influence her compositions.
This set is available in digital format only, for streaming and download.
Musicians: Emily Bezar on vocals, piano, keyboards, sound design, on all tracks; Brian Mesko on bass and guitar; and Jason Hoffheins on drums.
Artwork design by Emily Bezar.
More information and lyrics available at www.emilybezar.com.
Buy Vista.