Search - Toshinori Kondo :: Silent Melodies

Fine Solo Disc

Fritz Gerlich | admin@audioetc.info | 01/06/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This disc is an ambient free jazz solo excursion. It is just T.K. and his effects, nothing and nobody else. Also, there are no oberdubs on this disc. The notes are slow and delberately paced, producing an ambient style of music which is good for meditative listening and relaxation. That is not to say that this album isn't dynamic, rather that it's pacing is more on the slow side. The trumpeting is all electric, with a plethora of effects and distortions to provide plenty of variety to the sound. If the guy from Aphex Twin played trumpet, this is what it would sound like. Although it is free jazz, there is some loose structure here--such as Japanese scales. And it doesn't fall prey to the cacaphony discordant excesses of some free jazz. The sounds are soothing not jarring, so don't let the 'free jazz' moniker scare you away from this disc.



In short, if you are looking for something different from a trumpet player this is an excellent place to go. But expect slow deliberate ambient music that has been transmogrified by electronic effects."