by
Monique Avakian
12/18/12 (long version)
This
is the kind of album that leads a magically-minded person to start searching
for hidden clues buried inside numerical relationships. Being lousy at math,
this puts me in an awkward position. Don’t get me wrong – those of you
well-versed and in-place will happily puzzle through all the various layers of
rhythmic smoke bombs, harmonic fractals, (a)symmetrical puns, and inside jokes
to be found in this wildly structured tripped-out way IN.
But
since I speak for the poets among us, lets just go for the metaphor, shall we?
40Twenty
invites you into a world that seems completely unknown, yet totally familiar.
As Miranda Sielaff’s graphic on the back cover suggests, you are going to move
beyond your usual daily kind of Self. As you listen, you may begin to ponder
A~Universe~of~Ear or TheGeOgRaphYofWindOw. Certainly, you’ll get more familiar
with The Essence of Spiral. You may
even find a kind of ladder that goes everywhere inside a nowhere kind of
square. The deeper you go with listening, you realize you really are solid. As
in stabilized. As in GROUNDED.
And
how cool is that, to feel grounded in the middle of such high level
abstraction? Given the level of chaos most of us are experiencing nowadays, who
wouldn’t want to feel safe enough to hear water become granite or steel turn to
flax?
Believe
me, this is an album that will simultaneously plant your feet and blow your
mind.
Highlights of 4 Co-Creative
Voices:
Keys/Jacob Sacks:
Ever
true to the group improvisational spirit as well as his highly developed
uber-individualistic style, Mr. Sacks takes us on simultaneously layered
journeys of exploration, all defying simplistic categories of explanation. The
most intriguing moments, to me, are those source spots where he winds us down
into the lowest registers of resonance, as if drawing down the moon into an
expanse of sea. Sacks works a kind of temporal magic here that is as subtle as
it is benevolent. Whatever way you choose to connect (through math, sound,
beauty, science, art, magic or spirit), you, as I, will be left with the
concept of possibility and with a sure-footed feeling of empowerment.
Drums/Vinnie Sperrazza:
That
Ride! What a sound! And all that Multi-Dimensional Sonic Wash! Ooooh! What’s
he’s doing?!?! Sperrazza takes traditional cymbal techniques and elevates ideas
of a sonic harmonics into a place of integrity and purpose that is not even
close to what you might expect. It’s hard for a drummer to use sound-based
ideas in a way that invites people in, but Sperrazza is so melodically involved
in the harmony, it’s as though we’ve known him forever and what’s the big deal,
we’re just cookin’ along like always. Yet, nothing here is typical. Whether
made for emphasis, for cleansing, for contrast, for support, for transport, in
the service of a rhythmic choice—whatever the particular need called for by the
group at the moment, Sperrazza can be counted upon to go beyond convention and
provide something you might miss if you are not paying attention. Pay
attention! He’s so generous!
Bone/Jacob Garchik:
Melodically
rapid to the point of incredulity, conceptually hearty like your favorite
winter stew, sonically loping around when appropriate, stern yet completely
warm in intent--this is a kind of wow in technique and approach you are not
sure is for real because how could one person be so adept from so many
different angles and starting points? Look out and get into it. Garchik’s
steady and exponential evolutions will leave you completely exhausted and quite
happily so. His bold relentlessness is oddly reassuring.
Bass/David Ambrosio:
Mr.
Ambrosio provides a willful beacon to follow – if you dare. Lyrically-minded,
melodically intent, ever open inside the search, consistently inventive in
approach—you have to commit to taking the time to really get involved with the
Soul Force that is this bass player. His level of focus might seem kind of
scary at first, but that’s only because your attention span has been wrecked by
irrelevant machines and superficial living. Ambrosio’s careful freedom allows
the listener to cultivate an understanding rooted in intention, and his
complexity expresses a level of sincerity that is as refreshing as it is
enlightening. He offers us access to a world of abundance, but this is not to
be entered into haphazardly without care. The onus is on you to prepare, but if
you think about it, why would you want it any other way?
© Copyright - 40twenty / Yeah Yeah
Records (700261364872)
Yeah Yeah Records 0004
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