Matthew Welch/Craig Colorusso: Rusted Breath Quiet Hands

This beautiful gem offers a surprising collaboration between multifaceted composer and alto saxophonist Matthew Welch and performance artist, sculptor, dancer and guitarist Craig Colorusso. Brooklyn-based Welch is known for blending his Scottish roots into his compositions—often by playing the bagpipes—but he is also influenced by Indonesian Gamelan music, have studied with such composers as Alvin Lucier and Anthony Braxton, and having collaborated with sound alchemist Ikue Mori on her Balinese odyssey Bhima Swarga (Tzadik, 2007). Ceol Nua (Leo, 2002) and Dream Tigers (Tzadik, 2005) demonstrated Welch's wide spectrum of references.

New England-based Colorusso has played in several indie bands, released the solo guitar album Strap Parts (Moodswing Records, 2005) and, in the last decade, has composed soundscapes for his installations, including Between Two Worlds, created in collaboration with visual artist Jeph Gurecka to honor the deceased in the World Trade Center disaster. Rusted Breath Quiet Hands is released on Colorusso's newly founded label.

"I, one of two long tracks, is a slow drone improvisation/composition, where Colorusso produces dark and resonating sounds by bowing the guitar, with Welch adding long and sustained notes that hint gently about his Scottish musical heritage. The tension of the spare guitar fretting is resolved beautifully by the sax fluctuations. "II" is a lighter piece that maintains the mysterious atmosphere of the first track; the "Quiet Hands" part of this release. It offers a gentler meditation on quiet and simple sounds such as the soft strumming of the guitar and Welch's subdued alto sax work, which slowly gains in volume and articulation. A strange and fascinating recording.