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Dans les arbres: Dans les arbres
ByThat's not to say that there aren't periods of intensity throughout this 50-minute set of eight improvisations: "L'Indifference," over the course of eight minutes, ebbs and flows to moments of particular extreme, with Wallumrød's buzzing, prepared piano and Charles' undulating, ululating textureselectronic-sounding, at times, but absolutely notsupported by Zach's near-subliminal pulse and Grydeland's delicately bowed banjo. But what extremes exist amongst these eight spontaneous creations with French titlesreflecting Charles' nationality in this group of otherwise Norwegian musiciansare more about contrast with the overall subdued nature of the music, where subtile gradients rule, rather than manifest dramaturgy.
Those familiar with Grydeland and Zachmembers of the more electro-centric collective Huntsvillewhich continued its exploration of the place where free improv, roots Americana and hypnotic Indian rhythms meet on Ecos, Arches & Eras (Rune Grammofon, 2009)in addition to cofounding the acutely experimental SOFA label a decade agowon't be surprised at the degree of restraint they demonstrate here, as both players use a variety of extended techniques and preparations of their instruments to evoke textures beyond the pale. When combined with Wallumrødwho, along with Zach (a member of keyboardist Jon Balke's Batagraf and Magnetic North Orchestra), is Dans les arbres' the only other ECM alum, and whose own albums, including Fabula Suite Lugano (ECM, 2010), have moved increasingly away from overt improvisation, towards an understated kind of interpretationthe music of Dans les arbres leans more heavily towards the influence of contemporary classicism and of folklorism than anything resembling the American jazz tradition.
The wildcard in the group is Charles, who's as likely to be delivering long multiphonics as he is oblique melodies, contributing soaring lines that scream with passion yet refuse to condescend to the obvious. It's all too easy, after all, to improvise with reckless abandon and be about catharsis and almost vulgar expressionism; more difficult, then, to find a place where four voices can meet on egalitarian terms, to create music that ranges from a kind of Zen-like near-silence, to extremes that are greater, to be sure, but never so much so as to jar group's overall transcendental nature. Dark, and only occasionally departing from its introverted nature, Dans les Arbres engages many emotional touchstones, but never in ways that feel forced, coarse or superfluous.
Track Listing
La Somnolence; L'Indifférence; Le Flegme; L'Engourdissement; Le Détachment; La Froideur; L'Assoupissement; La Rettenue.
Personnel
Xavier Charles: clarinet, harmonica; Ivar Grydeland: acoustic guitar, banjo, sruti box; Christian Wallumrød: piano; Ingar Zach: percussion, bass drum.
Album information
Title: Dans les arbres | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: ECM Records