Feder, Janet & Fred Frith: Ironic Universe

Perhaps the word "sonorous" was developed to be applied just to this recording. In addition to the inherently warm and pliant voicings of the acoustic guitar and the further extension of those voicings by any number of physical and electronic treatments, the music of Ironic Universe manges to incorporate the once highly experimental inflections of treated guitar with the more radiant graces of traditional and non-traditional scales and tunings in a nearly perfect balance.

For those for whom there always seemed to be some question about treated instruments and whether the resulting sounds were in and of themselves enough to carry interest and attention into the once extra-musical terrain, the profound integration of those two seemingly disparate poles that play out between the solo and duo pieces here will readily convert any skeptic. Fluid and shimmering states find genuine resonance with the treated sounds that were once non-traditional, developing a form of contrast that supersedes the more usual slow / fast, soft / loud, high / low combinations. In Janet Feder's solo pieces – almost evenly alternating with the duos – the rhythmic and melodic gestures follow one another in nearly seamless and evolutionary order the familiar sounds of guitar extended by the treated instances. The duos take this discretion and combine the elements to display flawless and intertwined music. The contrast of apart / together provide an excellent structural metaphor for the way in which the music itself is built. Throughout the guitars literally glisten and reflect sound and in around a fluid music of reflective and detailed – beautiful without simply being pretty.

The sheer volume of this approach to music continues to grow. If you find yourself admiring the more abstract moments of Leo Kottke, the more quietly voiced pieces by Bill Frisell and any number of those following in the footsteps of Fred Frith, Ironic Universe offers safe harbor.

Track Listing
1) Opening
2) Heart Beat Faster
3) Torn
4) Short Story
5) See You on the Beach
6) Loose Slots
7) Six of One
8) Cricket
9) Hover
10) Waking the Day
11) Blue State
12) Closing
DVD
Fred Frith; Boulder Colorado, February 20, 2004
Janet Feder; Denver Colorado, May 11, 2006

Added: February 20th 2007
Reviewer: Kerry Leimer
Score:
Related Link: ReR Megacorp USA
Hits: 3438
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]