Ocean Eddie: Ocean Eddie

Taking their inspiration from whirlpools and countercurrents, the three Belgians who comprise Ocean Eddie allow their individual voices to merge and diverge in pursuit of a deeper level of communication. Accordionist Stan Maris, pianist Andreas Bral and saxophonist Viktor Perdieus create a compelling chamber aesthetic which exudes fragility and vulnerability, with more than a little beauty along the way.

The album's eleven pieces take on different modes, from well-demarcated tunes to much more abstract explorations of sound and texture. Perdieus' "Isme" has the jaunty feel of an elusive Thelonious Monk number, as the saxophonist and Maris each articulate the melody independently, although their separate pathways intertwine by the end of the piece. "Ochre" takes its time to unfold, with all three musicians slowly finding their way toward the track's lyrical center; Bral's "Ask" has a winding character with a somber melody which remains open-ended enough to allow for an especially introspective improvisation from the pianist. Maris' "The End" has a delicate charm as the accordionist colorfully explores the piece's poignant theme alongside his partners.

Just as effective are the more ambiguous moments, such as "Spirit Plumbing," which carves out more ethereal territory, with Perdius' breathy saxophone in a languid space staying just barely in contact with the oblique expressions of Maris and Bral. A palpable intensity ensues by the end of the track, with something approaching a recognizable theme, even if it takes on an enigmatic form.

Other pieces rely even more heavily on texture, such as "Skruj," Maris' repeated phrases pushing Perdieus and Bral (working on the inside of the piano) towards an unsettled tension, and "Molanopedie 3," the album's longest track, with Perdieus' close-miked extended techniques and Maris' drones leading into a dark space which is only barely illuminated by Bral's echoing chords. The patient development of this nine-minute piece highlights the trio's willingness to use silence as part of its approach, and it adds layers of intrigue and mystery to its sound. By the finish of the album, a brisk two-minute solo junket from Bral which again evokes Monk, it becomes clear that this is a group which will keep us guessing, always with surprising possibilities to discover.