Search - Acoustic Guitar Trio, Rod Poole, Jim McAuley :: Vignes

Rod Poole's Continued Ascent

Pharoah S. Wail | Inner Space | 05/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Information first: the Acoustic Guitar Trio - Vignes is Nels Cline, Jim McAuley and Rod Poole recorded in concert on 7/26/03 and released by the Italian label, Long Song Records.



Freely improvised and recorded with the sort of ringing, crystal clarity that lets natural decay fade away as fresh-plucked notes/sounds burst forth with real strength and tonal presence, Vignes is a very big deal. The recording/sonic quality itself really allows the music to breathe. Sometimes "Live" albums suffer from stiff, cold, direct soundboard-feed syndrome. The music is there. Everything is audible. It's just flat. On Vignes, everything really opens up and rings out the way you imagine it did in the room that night...



... but enough about that. Now what it's all about: The music! I'm going to declare that this just might be the acoustically guitaristic free-improvisation album for people who think they don't like free-improvisation. Why do I say it may be the free one for people who don't like free ones? In part because it works its way into grooves. Not beats, mind you... it's not rocking... it's not swinging... but minor grooves, or rather, hypnotic, bell-like pulses that occasionally surface as the other textures and tones frolic around them. The other reason is that some people automatically and mistakenly equate anything "free" with "aggressive" or "caustic" or "abrasive", and that is not the case here at all. This isn't quietly forgettable music at all, but it's never an in-your-face Wall of Squall.



Each musician is distinct, all leading and following together as one. This is about hearts and ears, human fingers on strings, and imaginations let loose yet intricately linked.



As for Nels Cline's acoustic releases in 2009, I instantly counted myself a big fan of Coward but I love this one even more. I think it could mesmerize and delight even Derek Bailey's harshest detractors yet still take us fans of Aida, Wireforks: Guitar Duets, Viper, etc... on journeys "Furthur".



If Vignes still isn't available here as you read my review, try picking it up where I got it in April. cdbaby. I've felt priveledged to be in the presence of this album during all my many listens thus far and I'd never hesitate to recommend Vignes way, way over Four Guitars Live. Beyootifull!"