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Anthony Coleman and Brian Chase: Arcades
ByAs one would expect of a percussionist with a strong rock background, Chase can pound his kit, and does so from time to time on the albumalbeit not by locking in on fixed pulses, but rather with a decentered intensity that is finely attuned to Coleman's tendencies. Coleman has a peripatetic sensibility that guides him through a range of fragments and patterns, sometimes with just a note or two and at other moments with jarring shards of chords, and Chase alternately shadows and urges him on throughout, making full use of the panoply of sounds he has at his disposal. Chase especially likes his toms, and the drums are well-tuned and captured well on the recording, allowing for a full appreciation of his prodigious technique.
Each piece covers a lot of ground: the twelve-minute title track has moments of bristling energy, but there is also ample space in the music; both players exhibit remarkable restraint in allowing their ideas to develop patiently, never forcing the issue by resorting to over-the-top exhibitionism. Indeed, some of the album's most intriguing music emerges from the duo's more subtle interactions: there is a certain allure to hearing Coleman work his way through the slight figures on "Divagations" or "Crepuscule" while Chase accompanies him using just a cymbal splash or quiet brush strokes.
Admittedly, the reticence on display does at times require extra patience from the listener too. A track like "Momentary Come-on" thus provides a necessary contrast, allowing both players to become progressively more animated as the music unfolds, leading to some scintillating exchanges and the duo's most impassioned playing, almost (but not quite) settling into a groove. But even when the music stays well shy of peak intensity, there is more than enough to sustain interest, as Coleman and Chase merge their independent voices skillfully and sympathetically.
Track Listing
Arcades; Divagations; Crepuscule; Momentary Come-on; With Cunning.
Personnel
Anthony Coleman
pianoBrian Chase
drumsAlbum information
Title: Arcades | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Chaikin Records
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Anthony Coleman and Brian Chase
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