The first mental images that slowly drifted into my head while listening to this disc were that of a nocturnal sleepwalk through some sort of imaginary landscape. Perhaps I was sleepwalking myself or was I actually awake and listening to some sort of soundtrack for insomniacs? Whatever the case may be Lung Tree is the creation of three very talented musicians, Eric Rieman (piano), Lesli Dalaba (trumpet) and Stuart Dempster (trombone), who have successfully found a way to merge electronica and found sound with traditional instruments, and the results produced on this CD are nothing short of magical.
The journey begins with the opening track "Opening Credits / Resolve" which sound like exactly that, you get the feeling you are all of a sudden hearing the opening musical credits for a film. From there it's on to the ethereal sounds of "The Dock-Red Ice" and "Walking Ruminations" which feature Rieman's prepared piano treatments over which Dalaba bursts in occasionally with blasts from her trumpet, sounding at times like she's got it hooked up to a wah- wah pedal. By the time you reach the 5th track, "Bed Shadows Into Sleep" you have now been immersed headlong into their world of eccentric beauty as your ear is treated to the eclectic mating dance of what sounds like a toy piano or a jack in the box being wound up, pounding out random notes as the apparent didjeridu work of Dempster groans in the background. Minimal electronic percussion announces the arrival of the song "Waking By The Refinery" which is probably one of the most ambient pieces on the CD, after 6 minutes it drifts lazily into "Dissolution And Redemption Animals" which is a solo piano track by Rieman. This song comes closest than anything else on Lung Tree to resembling a straight ahead jazz composition. The last 2 songs "Morning Light Through Smokestacks" and "Talking Into The Wind" finish things off in strong fashion and then before you know it, after almost 50 minutes, the dream is over. I loved this disc from the first time I played it and I'm certain that I'll enjoy it even more after repeated listens, as there are so many musical layers to penetrate and digest. If you are open and receptive to this kind of music, I'm sure you'll find like I did, that the rewards that resonate from Lung Tree make this an absolute treasure and a great addition to your collection.
Track Listing
1) Opening Credits/Resolve
2) The Dock-Red Ice
3) Walking Ruminations
4) Timbral Shift 10.Coward's Line/ Lobby Bar
5) Bed Shadows Into Sleep
6) Waking By The Refinery
7) Dissolution And Redemption Animals (Dream 3)
8) Morning Light Through Smokestacks
9) Talking Into The Wind
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