Fred Lonberg-Holm, Abdul Moimême & Carlos Santos: Transition Zone

Chicago-based cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm has long been in the vanguard of free improvisation. But along with free jazz, he has recorded in the rock and country genres, and composed concert works. He is joined on Transition Zone by two leaders of Lisbon's creative music scene. Dual-electric guitarist/composer Abdul Moimême and electronics artist/composer Carlos Santos bring their extraordinary abilities to create ethereal soundscapes to this impressive project.

Nothing sounds familiar in this amalgamation of cello, custom guitars, electronics, computer, and synthesizer. Yet together, an undeniably organic metamorphosis takes shape in each of the five extended improvisations. Each of these five extended pieces has a titled theme should the listener be compelled to find a link. No matter how arbitrary the relationship is, unearthly stories are playing out in the unconventional sounds of the trio. "Ring" is less a bell than a cluster of space debris orbiting an unknown planet. Lonberg-Holm's briefly plaintive cello conveys a sole traveler's loneliness. On "Blister," a locomotive roar emerges through the crackle of fire and crashes headlong into the buzzing strings of Lonberg-Holm and Moimême. Chaos follows and builds until the whole piece slides into a metallic echo chamber.

For moments at a time, Transition Zone glides dispassionately across an alien landscape only to attract a resistance that sets the trio to scraping and crunching their way through. It evokes nothing so much as harrowing proximity to the edge of an unfamiliar world. Yet, there is an inspiring beauty almost as intangible as the species generated by the instruments in this album. This is highly recommended experimental music.