New music sextet Eighth Blackbird have been celebrated for their previous recordings, even winning a 2016 Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance. Filament is a new release with four world premiere recordings, as well as a concert recording of the influential piece Two Pages by Philip Glass. Symbolizing strong ties of musical interest and friendship, the title Filament was chosen carefully by the ensemble. Among the premiere recordings are Bryce Dessner’s Murder Ballades, which is a surprisingly upbeat take on the macabre, and Doublespeak by Nico Muhly which is an homage to Philip Glass and his classic minimalism. In addition to being featured composers, Dessner and Muhly are also featured musicians for the Glass composition.