Cole Pulice, “Eternal at Land’s End”

Cole Pulice, “Land’s End Eternal”

By Matthew Blackwell

· May 13, 2025

At certain angles through the mist and fog, the Golden Gate Bridge, as seen from Lands End park, can evoke the feeling of connecting to another world. This tranquil sense of standing at the edge of the earth inspired the visionary composers in San Francisco, like Morton Subotnick and Terry Riley, and it beautifully resonates within Cole Pulice’s work, *Land’s End Eternal*. Relocating to the Bay Area from Minneapolis after the pandemic, Pulice’s new compositions embody a serene journey across the astral divide.

Pulice has crafted a distinct sound with saxophone solos that seem to emanate from a dreamscape. The expansive 2023 track “If I Don’t See You in the Future, I’ll See You in the Pasture” unfolds as a live-processed sax performance, carrying a shifting, shimmering resonance that transcends expectations of a woodwind instrument. On albums like *Gloam* and *Scry*, Pulice’s saxophone transcends its traditional role, transforming into something akin to a MIDI controller through a network of intricate connections. The opening track of *Land’s End Eternal*, “Fragments of a Slipstream Dream,” exemplifies this enchanting practice of musical metamorphosis. A richly layered thrum conjures images of a distant rocket launch, with a graceful sax solo gently adorning the soundscape. Every note experienced here is rooted in Pulice’s saxophone, artfully processed and redefined.

The heart of the album is the three-part series “In a Hidden Nook Between Worlds I–III,” which weaves delicate, explorative guitar with the tender breath of saxophone. Although Pulice is a skilled saxophonist, they recently began exploring the guitar after a friend temporarily brought one into their life. This trilogy features a softly strummed electric guitar, each note resonating freely; embracing the simplicity of a new instrument, Pulice offers clean, uncluttered melodies. The depth emerges from the dialogue between the instruments, as guitar and sax respond to one another like kindred spirits discovering a cherished hidden space.

“In This and Every Life” opens with a weathered grand piano, revealing a tender struggle for sound, reminiscent of an old bell tolling. Suddenly, the track transitions to a close-miked felt piano, revealing a warm clarity that echoes like a storm lifting. The following track, album closer “After the Rain,” radiates like sunlight piercing through clouds. This piece stands as the most expansive, with harmonious guitars, saxophone, brass, and vocals from Maria BC, building gently to a euphoric crescendo. After nearly nine minutes, a grand vista emerges, inviting listeners into the transcendent realm Pulice has so artfully navigated, beyond the land’s end and into the cosmos.