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Aaron Comess: Sculptures
ByThe album focuses on Comess' compositions rather than his drumming: no long percussion-clinic demonstrations here. Leon Gruenbaum's "samchillian relative-pitch synthesizer" and Grey McMurray's guitars get more spotlight, but neither Gruenbaum nor McMurray are interested in chops-heavy fusionesque exploits. Press materials stress the micro-tonal possibilities of Gruenbaum's homebrewed synth, but in practice he pushes the boundaries of texture (and, occasionally, good taste) rather than tonality. There's nothing here to give the listener flashbacks to a Joe Maneri album.
The album frontloads the harshest and most challenging tunesa brave if potentially off-putting choice. Around track three, though, things settle down to an approachable brand of instrumental rock, so if you're planning to put this on as background music at a party, that's where to drop the needle. Don't come here for mind-blowing improv, but if you're curious to hear a project by someone associated with the Spin Doctors that doesn't make you want to do violent things to kittens, Sculptures is worth checking out. Just shy of thirty-seven minutes long, it won't outstay its welcome.
Track Listing
Sculptures; Berlin; Dogs; Wacky; The Beast; The Pink Room; Soundcheck-Oceans; Falling Leaves; Berlin Part Two.
Personnel
Aaron Comess
drumsAaron Comess, drums; Leon Gruenbaum, samchillian relative-pitch synthesizer; Grey McMurray, electric guitar; Oli Rockberger, electric piano; John Davies, bass.
Album information
Title: Sculptures | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Self Produced
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