Initiation with Jon Mueller
"At an unusual domed stage called the Banks of the St. Coix, attendees were supplied with headphones to watch artists perform behind three walls of translucent video screens. That odd setup couldn't have been more perfect for Jon Mueller's Initiation, an album he recorded solely for live exhibition. Mueller played the record in the most literal sense, queuing up each side on a phonograph, then disappearing to the back of the stage. Dancer Dawn Springer sweated through an expressive routine during the A side, which synthesized ritual chants with the rhythmic builds of contemporary dance music. The record's bleaker B side was set to an intense projected film from Chris Hefner. Given the novelty of the format, Mueller could have coasted with second-tier material, but these compositions were as thrilling as his best album cuts, each loaded with surprise turns and magnificent payoffs." Evan Rytlewski, Shepherd Express