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CRAIG GREEN - Love Notes In Binary Code

Discus: DISCUS 92CD

Craig Green: Classical guitar; Clive Deamer: Drums and percussion
Recorded May 2019 by Patrick Phillips at J and J Studios, Bristol 

This is a short (25 minute) EP of four tunes. These four pieces began as sketches (notes A to D) that formed the basis of the improvised collaboration between Green and Deamer.  The concept arises from the ways in which Information Technology informs and pervades our lives and communication with each other.

Green mixes a variety of guitar styles, which (to my ears) encompass flamenco, americana and folk, played with tunings and chord progressions that are have a heavy jazz flavour.   His clean tone means that the vibrancy of each individual note hangs in the air. More immediately, each piece works a phrase that the listener instantly gets, drawing them into the music and its development.

Deamer, makes the perfect foil to Green’s exemplary mix of acoustic guitar styles; among other bands, he has been one of the two drummers in Radiohead for most of the past decade (although older readers will also know his work with Roni Size and Portishead).  This means that the drum patterns, from a jazzy shuffle to break-beats, work in and around the guitar creating their own melodies and patterns. Sometimes these drum patterns encourage the guitar away from the stated themes, other times these form a dialogue in which both players work their around some beguiling melodic conundrums.  While the running time leaves this listener wanting to hear a lot more, the quality of the tunes are immensely satisfying and have repaid many listens.

 Reviewed by Chris Baber

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ECM celebrates 50 years of music production with the Touchstones series of re-issues