(Blade of) Carlstedt Motzer Torn: The Flowering Am

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 along for a sometimes unexpected ride.

"Les Fleurs D'Ambonif" brings the trio into full cry. Carlstedt and Motzer also play together in the trio Orion Tango, so it should not be surprising that this group calls some of that band's freer playing to mind. Before long the sound finds its way into more textural territory. And despite the lack of a bassist, there is still plenty of low-end (which could be coming from any of the players, since they all have electronics at their disposal). So it is a group with a wide range of sounds available, in every sense of the word. There is also plenty of ecstatic soloing from both Torn and Motzer, building to a powerful climax. "Assume No Mountain" concludes the set with a kind of coda: at first it seems to be a quiet textural exercise, before louder sounds emerge from the background, only to finally fade away. A calm conclusion, or an invitation to listen again from the beginning, where new discoveries await.

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