Imagine if you will, the great guitar legend Terje Rypdal jamming with the mighty King Crimson...sounds appealing doesn't it? Well, that's the first thing that comes to mind when listening to Lighthouse, the latest slab of improvised adventures from the trio of guitarist Mark Wingfield, Touch guitarist Markus Reuter, and drummer Asaf Sirkis. All three players have been making lots of waves in various projects of late, but it was their maiden voyage together in 2016, The Stone House, that really hinted at the potential they could achieve as a trio, and it's fully realized here on this astounding seven track album.
Filled with plenty of menace and sizzling musical explosions, Lighthouse perfectly exemplifies the term 'light and shade', as the trio go from atmospheric, dreamy soundscapes to bombastic bursts of musical virtuosity at the drop of a hat. "Zinc" kicks off the proceedings in fine fashion, chock full of savage, jagged lead work courtesy of Reuter and Wingfield, with Sirkis staying busy but steady underneath it all. "Derecho" is no less terrifying, with Crimson-ish intensity steadily building throughout the track to a dramatic conclusion. Wingfield's yearning lead lines permeate the brooding "Ghost Light", as ominous prog-rock meets jazz, Reuter creating all sorts of spooky effects and Sirkis adding as assortment of delicate touches. The equally epic "Magnetic" sees a busier Sirkis laying down some nimble fills while the two axe slingers craft some nightmarish textures and blazing solos. Wingfield invokes Rypdal on the stunning "A Hand in the Dark", a piece littered with tasty shards of white hot guitar firepower, which leads into the more jazz-tinged "Transverse Wave", Reuter's undulating grooves allowing Wingfield's mournful cries to soar overhead. The trio save the most upbeat number for last, the full on prog attack that is "Surge", a quirky & aggressive number that sees all three players completely locked in, Wingfield unloading a barrage of heavy riffs and blazing lead lines while Reuter and Sirkis concoct some acrobatic rhythms. Impressive to say the least.
According to the liner notes, Lighthouse was recorded live in the studio with no overdubs and minimal editing, which makes this whole recording all the more mind blowing. Improvised music doesn't get much better than this folks, and this is truly a 'trio of doom' that demands your immediate attention.
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
1.
Zinc 07:47
2.
Derecho 08:29
3.
Ghost Light 14:19
4.
Magnetic 11:13
5.
A Hand In The Dark 04:54
6.
Transverse Wave 05:19
7.
Surge 04:29
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