The Elephant in the Review
Shows like The Bigger Picture have value whether a white reviewer approves of it or not. As much as I enjoyed it, my review is ultimately an incomplete understanding of the work, because I will never have the lived experience that would allow that level of depth in analysis.
The Bigger Picture | Sachém, featuring Matt Hsu’s Obscure Orchestra.
With the colourful ensemble of Matt Hsu’s Obscure Orchestra providing a sonically vibrant depth to Sachém’s poetic innovation from his 2021 debut EP Part of the Picture, The Bigger Picture is explosive but not unstable, complex yet entirely focused, and expansive without ever being overwhelming. Altogether, the experience is simultaneously the manifestation of the incredible skill and ambition of one man while also being an unreservedly proud celebration of a rich, inclusive community.