The ten tracks of this were recorded in real time (with no overdubs) over a two day period during February 2006.
The result, as you would expect from Hebden and Reid. is fresh and exciting. The spontaneity is signalled in Reid’s very live, vibrant- sounding percussion and in Hebden’s sprinkled handfuls of electric guitar (especially effective in opening track “The Sun Never Sets”
Between Hebden as producer and Mark Rankin as recording engineer the set has an ambient unity that evokes one special room, where the listener is given a privileged place to sit while two gifted and exceptionally creative musicians provoke each other into some very good ideas. The sense of immediacy and of the musicians active presence is strong.
As music I would say that it demands active listening. Background music it is certainly not. There are steady rhythms and there are some landmark “tunes”, but the experience works best as a continuis sit-down-and-listen string of happy concidences and surprises.
One particulary unexpected arrival (at track 5) is “Greensleeves” sampled and processed from an original source on a musical box. The tune emerges slowly but surely. And maybe it would work best if your hadn’t read the track list or been told what was coming. But it’s still lots o fun. And it does serve as some kind of kind of guide to the processes that Hebden (no percussion on this track) is using.
|
The track that follows “Greensleeves” has a really funky drum kit sound, and totally lives up to its title “Rhythm Dance” as Hebden race sto keep up with as many bleeps, whistles and related noises as he can cram in, chop up and loop round in the seven minutes of fun. I’m guessing he pair of them felt pretty pleased with themselves when that one was recorded.
I’ve seen Hebden do some live stuff where, although there were high points, there did seem to be long sections of looking around for a groove or a direction to launch out into. This “live” studio collection is much more focussed and satisfying -well worth the investment.
|
