No Spaghetti Edition - Sketches of a Fusion

Sofa
520

It’s a sextet I’d certainly make time for were they playing locally: Martin Tétreault (turntables, small electronics), Xavier Charles (clarinet, harmonica), Christian Wallumrød (piano), Tonny Kluften (double bass), Ingar Zach (percussion), Ivar Grydeland (banjo, guitar). The last three are the original members of the group. Perhaps there’s another line-up that includes an Italian or two, hence the name. Two long pieces, “Dark” and “Black”, each spreading out attractively, taking time to explore a wide range of textures, providing subtle rhythmic pushes to nudge things forward. It’s been a while since I’ve heard Tétreault in an ensemble this size and he does a wonderful job leavening the proceedings, his electronics sometimes acquiring a weight equal to the contributions of the other five combined though never overpowering things. Zach is the other prime force here, wielding a seemingly infinite palette of percussive colors, always with great sensitivity. That said, the works as a whole fall more into the solid, capable area rather than the spectacular or unusually inspired. “Dark” roves from more intense, busy sections to drone-oriented spacey ones, relaxed and introspective. Things go off-track on occasion, as during a Bailey-esque, Grydeland-prominent section toward the last third of the piece that meanders overmuch, but less so than your average ensemble and it concludes with a thrillingly intense, bell-driven several minutes.

“Black”, at half of “Dark”’s length (18 to 36 minutes), is more successful in toto, concentrating the energies heard in the first piece just that much more, eliminating a smidgen of excess here and there. As the title implies, it’s more umbrose than the first track, shadowy and mysterious (some great dropped objects near the start), the sounds developing a forbidding aspect as it unfolds. Once again, Tétreault’s contributions really make the piece, providing just the right sizzle, especially alongside the ringing bowed metal near the end.

“Sketches of a Fusion”—hmmm, not sure what they’re after here—is another good release from this fine, Norwegian imprint.

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