Hyper.object: inter.independence

The premise defined for this recording session was clear; each member of the quintet was "to develop their ideas individually and to not immediately react or engage in direct dialog with the other musicians from the group." Did they succeed? Absolutely not, and that is what ultimately makes inter.independence a success as a free improvised recording. Hyper.object comprised bassist Hernâni Faustino and pianist Rodrigo Pinheiro from the acclaimed Red Trio plus the electronics of Carlos Santos, trumpeter João Almeida, and drummer João Valinho. Although the quintet sounds as if they have been collaborating for decades, this is their first recording as a unit. It bears a stoic sound, patient in its approach with a command of space and silence as its strategy.

The instruction to not engage is evidenced in the opening "Glitch" which ramps into a maelstrom of sounds. Sizzling electronics bump into irregular beats and a gambol of piano notes. After the opener, the directive breaks down or, better said, the music congeals. Try as they might to walk separate paths, the music always comes together. "Low" and "Glue" trade in minimal sounds, water dripping, arco bow strikes on strings, busy percussion, probing trumpet and piano attack. The space allotted by the musicians accomplishes the opposite of dividing; it in fact unites the sound. The longest track, "Glow," at thirteen minutes, opens with the popping sounds of Almeida's trumpet backed by the pecked piano of Pinheiro. As the track progresses, the quintet germinates its sound first with little gestures before blossoming up into an intense free generator. Even the quietus of "Last" has a congruence by way of its restraint. Try as they might, the quintet's music always comes together here.