Artist.......: Ensemble Uncontrolled
Album........: Links
Label........: Slam
Genre........: Avantgarde
Catnr........: SLAMCD 507
source.......: CDDA
rip.date.....: dec.-02-2009
str.date.....: 2001
quality......: VBR/44,1Hz/Joint-Stereo
Url..........: n/a
track title time
01. Triplets Holiday 06:30
02. Digital Ants 03:50
03. Wind Tells (Sometimes) 04:56
04. Restless Counterpoint 06:12
05. Fat Man 05:20
06. Confrence of the Birds 02:03
07. Electric Bebop 05:21
08. Have You Been in Tibet? 09:41
09. In a Criminal Mood 03:25
10. Above the Blue 08:17
Runtime 55:35 min
Size 67,4 MB
Release Notes:
Ensemble Uncontrolled's second CD came out on Slam
Productions, five years after the debut Tales From
the Forest on Leo Records Laboratory. It presents
studio recordings from April 1997 and two live
pieces from October 1996. So, on the timeline, the
music is actually much closer to the first CD than
to the release date of this second opus. Members of
the international outfit meet sparsely, but their
free improvisations still convey a strong sense of
maturity. The studio tracks were recorded in
Tallinn (Estonia), home of trombonist Eduard Akulin
and guitarist Mart Soo. Kalle Laar (guitar),
Takashi Kasamaki (percussion), and Day & Taxi
saxophonist Christoph Gallio complete the lineup.
Paul Hoskin adds his bass clarinet to the two live
improvs. Halfway between Peter Br÷tzmann's
tropical-heat blowing and the Spontaneous Music
Ensemble's abstract restraint, the music of the
Ensemble Uncontrolled embraces texture without
turning its back on dynamics. Sometimes it results
in a clumsy attempt at instant structured pieces
("Above the Blue"). More generally the music offers
a complex, rich amalgam of ideas. The two guitars
dominate the sound, establishing moods, taking up
solo space, and so on. Gallio brings a more lyrical
point of view, throwing lines inspired by Evan
Parker. Trombone and percussion remain for the most
part at the level of interesting accessories. "Wind
Tells (Sometimes)," "Restless Counterpoint," and
"Have You Been in Tibet?" all provide paced
highlights. Links is not a groundbreaking album,
but it features honest, heartfelt, and challenging
improvising.