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6
Album Review

(Blade of) Carlstedt Motzer Torn: The Flowering Am

Read "The Flowering Am" reviewed by Mark Sullivan


The first sound that greets the listener to this new improvisational trio is the familiar strangled whammy bar manipulations of guitarist David Torn, joined by textural sounds by fellow guitarist Tim Motzer. Drummer Jeremy Carlstedt provides only a heartbeat rhythm initially, followed by cymbals and drums that only coalesce into a regular beat about halfway into the opener “Ping." It is the kind of open exploration expected from these adventurous musicians, ranging from calm to stormy and taking the listener ...

4
Album Review

John Swana / Tim Motzer / Doug Hirlinger: Channels

Read "Channels" reviewed by Geno Thackara


It's a jungle in here. The atmosphere is thick and close, even when things are still. Strange creatures keep flitting through the trees and rustling the bushes. The air never stays quiet for very long amidst the eerie calls of strange birds. The here in this case is a landscape that is imaginary, but that makes it no less vivid, exotic and just occasionally hair-raising. The opening “Lost" makes being lost seem as fascinating as it is unnerving; ...

3
Album Review

Goldbug: Naacal

Read "Naacal" reviewed by Geno Thackara


When thinking of ancient civilizations, it's natural to start with, say, Sumerians or Egyptians. The Naacal aren't exactly first to leap to mind--not least because nobody knows if they actually existed. There was a certain amount of creative license in the earliest writings about pre-Mayan people in Central America and the lost continent of Mu. Barry Meehan finds the idea fascinating all the same, though, and those musings provide a central textural theme for this improvisational electric-acid-avant-jazz outfit on their ...

1
Album Review

Orion Tango: The Apple Of No

Read "The Apple Of No" reviewed by Geno Thackara


In times as strange and uncertain as ever, Orion Tango prefers to remember that there are some silver linings we can count on and “the world doesn't have to go this way," as guitarist Tim Motzer explains it. One steady constant of course is the power of music--edge-of-seat improvisation is this power trio's specialty, and the allure of discovery is one reassuring reminder that “we live with hope." All three members are longtime friends and collaborators ready to jump out ...

1
Album Review

Bandit 65: Bandit 65

Read "Bandit 65" reviewed by Geno Thackara


It's not unheard of for groups to include drums without a bass as rhythmic partner, though the rest of the players may sometimes be surprised how much they miss that anchor (which is easy to take for granted after all). A small combo has a couple basic options for working around that absence. They can have some other instrument fill the role, or else leave things loose, trust each other's timing and allow for the possibility of getting lost. The ...

222
Album Review

Base3: Live From Earth

Read "Live From Earth" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Culled from shows in the Philadelphia area, BASE3 features lead soloist and very active experimental guitarist Tim Motzer, who integrates jazz-rock, avant-rock and ambient soundscapes into his adventurous repertoire. Having collaborated on albums with German composer, touch guitarist and synthesist Markus Reuter in the recent past, here, Motzer and associates perpetuate a boundary-less trek into innumerable musical galaxies, abetted by a democratic, group-centric focus. “GodParticle" is a prime indicator of what Live From Earth is all about. Largely ...

285
Album Review

Tim Motzer / Markus Reuter: Descending

Read "Descending" reviewed by Sid Smith


Sometimes, with albums built from file-shared overdubs, the sum of the parts can be greater than the whole. Happily the reverse is very much the case with this engaging collaboration between guitarists Tim Motzer and Markus Reuter. The core of this elegantly dreamy music was recorded at a concert given by the duo in 2008, with guest contributions added over the following couple of years. As a result, the original improvisations have been weathered and abraded with ...


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