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Silver Ash: Silver Ash
ByLong considered one of the premier free jazz and improvising drummers, Arnal always rises to the occasion, regardless of format, or a given band's mode of operation. On Silver Ash, the trio navigates through a largely electronics-centered and playfully psychotic panorama. On "Deathless," Arnal's rumbling drums offer a wide-open platform, enveloped by a clean and reverberating analogue sound, accelerated by Aaron Dugan's schizoid and spaced-out guitar lines amid Casey Block's sprawling electronics treatments. Loose comparisons to some of French space-rock pioneer Richard Pinhas' avant tendencies may surface, as the trio perpetuates a fluid wall-of-sound, while traversing the limitless expanse of the universe.
"Lifeboat" resides within an uncanny region where progressive rock and Afro-blues elements attain logical alignment. Here, the musicians engage in noise-shaping exercises atop Arnal's offbeat pulses, amid a doomsday mindset, resulting in catastrophic circumstances. With booming patterns, small percussion shadings, and nightmarish inferences, the music conjures up notions of a harrowing dream, where life is hanging by a thread.
In some respects, the 7" LP format can allude to a teaser, due to technological time constraints. But it's all about quality and not quantity, especially when many artists seem intent on maxing out the space provided on CDs with less than stellar material. Regardless, Silver Ash is a band that makes its mark in rather prolific fashion.
Track Listing
Deathless; Lifeboat.
Personnel
Aaron Dugan: guitar; Casey Block: electronics; Jeff Arnal: percussion.
Album information
Title: Silver Ash | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Generate Records
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Silver Ash
CD/LP/Track Review
Glenn Astarita
Generate Records
United States
Jeff Arnal
John Dierker
Aaron Dugan
Richard Pinhas