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Rez Abbasi: A Throw Of Dice
ByIn an already unusual and diverse catalogue of projects, A Throw Of Dice stands out as even more exceptional. Unlike his past albums, the music here is inspired by images on screen. The album is alsoor to be more accurate, primarilythe name of a silent film made by the German director Franz Osten in 1929. For the commission to score the movie, Abbasi assembled a unique acoustic lineup named The Silent Ensemble. In harmony with its name, the group interacts with much acoustic nuance and delivers a suite-like stream of compositions with a chamber-music quality comprised of prudence and conviction.
Melody and rhythm both play important roles throughout the hour-spanning soundtrack. Opening segment "Mystery Rising" works like a classical overture by putting all of the different approaches to show: solo guitar sections are superseded by driven drum patterns that slowly scale back to light percussion accompanying strings and flutes. In contrast to the prevailing acoustic setting, during the course of the album Abbasi occasionally draws on the electric guitar for further diversity in color, as presented on the ballad-turned-march "Blissful Moments." Some of the most profound music can be discovered in the more openly constructed pieces: "Seven Days Until News" is based around sparse acoustic guitar strokes that are guided by a steadily pulsating string section and minimal cymbal hits on drums, making for one of the most lyrical moments of the record. The successor "Duplicity" aptly continues the train of thought.
A constant motion of colors and emotions, carried to the forefront by the music, provokes curiosity as to what particular images or scenes might have influenced certain themes or sequences of dense interplay. Nevertheless, when taken as a whole the music makes sense and can stand on its own. Between shorter and transitional cuts, entire tunes, as for example "Wedding Preparation," fill in the blank spaces to create a complete picture. And like in a film, the musical pictures here aren't static but seamlessly hand ideas and impulses down a chain of snapshots and become a narrating entity in motion.
Track Listing
Mystery Rising; Hopeful Impressions; Love Prevails; Facing Truth; Amulet and Dagger; Blissful Moments; Seven Days Until News; Duplicity; Jugglers; Snake Bite; Moving Forward; Wedding Preparation; Morning Of The Wedding; Gambling Debt; Boy Changes Fate; Falsehood; Changing Worlds; Chase For Liberation.
Personnel
Rez Abbasi
guitar, acousticPawan Benjamin
saxophone, sopranoJennifer Vincent
bass, acousticJake Goldblas
drumsRohan Krishnamurthy
percussionRez Abbasi: guitars, electric sitar-guitar; Pawan Benjamin: saxophones, western flute, bansuri; Jennifer Vincent: cell, bass; Rohan Khrisnamurthy: mridangam, ghatam, khanjira; Jake Goldblas: drum set.
Album information
Title: A Throw Of Dice | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Whirlwind Recordings
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About Rez Abbasi
Instrument: Guitar, acoustic
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