The aptly titled Duo from Telescope Road -- comprised of William Kopecky on fretless bass and Alain Chiarazzo on electro-acoustic guitars -- delivers splendidly moody instrumental music that is perfect for writing, reading, studying or simply chilling.
Dramatically more laid back than some of Kopecky’s other work in recent years, including the pitch-black Haiku Funeral project with Bulgarian black-metal lord Dmitar Dimitrov, Duo follows a self-titled 2016 Telescope Road release that also included Finnish drummer and percussionist David Lillkvist. I’m not sure what happened to him, but Kopoecky and Chiarazzo are managing just fine without him.
Rather than bring in another drummer or resort to machines, the (ahem) duo decided to go it alone with their strings. Recorded in France, where Wisconsin-bred Kopecky has lived for years, the album opens with “Beyond the Horizon,” a refreshing piece that the sets the tone for melody and musicianship. Kopecky and Chiarazzo complement each other throughout, and their compelling interplay is particularly emphasized during the anxious moments of “Fire in the Garden,” deep inside the melancholy of “Lost Flowers” and spread across the cinematic “Eastern Escape.”
Duo only lasts about 30 minutes, and it would be easy to gripe about that. But here’s the thing: We should be grateful for what these guys have given us. I'll gladly embrace just a half hour of the smart and highly listenable songs Telescope Road delivers over longer, filler-laden instrumental records.
Track Listing:
1. Beyond the Horizon
2. Diamonds and Knives
3. Fire in the Garden
4. Trees in November
5. Lost Flowers
6. Eastern Escape
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