Banana / Dump Truck CD review
BobH | Boston, MA | 06/02/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Although we are beyond calling this experimental music, the compositions here combine approaches of rock and classical genres. The CD is categorized in the classical music section because it is delivered by classically trained musicians. This is `concert' music, but, don't expect your typical classical music or modern classical music. As noted in the product description it is full of popular music elements. On this CD you will find some instruments and techniques prominently used in the jazz and rock worlds and played in a manner often used in jazz-rock fusion interplay. It contains some 4 pieces (or "cuts" might be a more appropriate word) with some unique titles.
"Fusion Tune", the first track, shows the guitar in a prominent role. It is an inter-play between the cello and the guitar. Interesting in tone, sonority and color, often presented in soundscapes.
"Deal", the second track, is over 31 minutes. It contains sound effects (dog barking) and goes through various phases and emotional shifts. It is a full lengthen piece and fully exhausts the introduced ideas. The guitar leads and often overwhelms the other instruments.
In some sections it is a jazz session, while in others, it is a collision of rock jam session attributes and modern concert music.
"Banana / Dump Truck", the title track, is also 31 minutes in length. This work contains some musical theatrics and a variety of techniques. It is intense, with a variety of soundscapes and very dependant on the "down stroke" in the instrumental playing. It can be sharp, fragmented and some times jagged. It is full of dramatics, often with a sense of moving forward. At points the piece can linger and explore the sounds of a single idea.
"San Francisco", the final track, is more structured group of sounds and motives, often with heavy embellishments. It is a guitar and cello painting. At just over 6 minutes it is far shorter than the other two long pieces on this CD, but, gets to the point and finalizes its ideas more succinctly!
The CD is more than modern concert music, it is a place for improvisation and musical expansion that we don't often hear in modern classical concert music. This is one of my favorite recordings on which BMOP is performing.
"