Customer Reviews

2 + 2 Compositions

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That's "electroacoustic improv", aka "lowercase", aka a dozen other nicknames--the burgeoning subgenre of minimalist post-AMM free improvisation. Anyway, the young trio on here clearly has been paying attention to that area of the music; I don't know if Braxton's strongly interested in it or not (probably he is, he seems to have an endless appetite for music of all kinds) but on the first track in particular, "Scaffolding" (a Matt Bauder composition) there's a strong eai tinge. Listeners may be divided on whether this works--a guitarist/critic I know found this disc awkward & uneventful, but for me this is one of the most enjoyable of Braxton's various outings with the young crop of Wesleyan students. It's quite beautiful (in part because Braxton and Bauder play clarinets for most of the album), & if you're in the mood even the longest tracks flow by quite smoothly & quickly. Braxton's more usual style of swirling, knotted playing is barely present on here--this is note-to-note playing, with barely a lick in sight, & I think it suits him. Check it out.

To correct some serious historical errors floating down here in the review section, one should realize that Braxton entered the electronic foray, or even eai style, as far back as the early 70s. In particular you can hear him exchanging notes with Richard Teitelbaum who was a member of the pioneering electronic group musica elettronica viva. You could also look to music with Derek Bailey or others that also really resemble the style of this recording acousticesque recording. This is a pretty good recording and a step away from Teitelbaum, George Lewis, or Wolf Eyes collaborations. Here he scurries in and out of Braxton style compositions to playful interludes with Bauder. This is certainly a welcome change of direction for Braxton fans though not a stunning one.