PRIMITIVE FIELD - Alcheringa
SLAM: SLAMCD591
Christian Muela: didgeridoo, fx; Roberto Bellatalla: double bass, bells; Ivan Macera: drums, percussion
Recorded 4th March 2017 by Davide Abruzzzese at GrooveFarm, Rome.
This trio specialises in using traditional instruments in the context of free improvisation. As you might expect from the choice of didgeridoo as the focal instrument, this set involves the development of drones that are layered on top of a scuttling percussion. As the pieces develop, the drums set up a beat that syncopates the bass and drones, as in ‘Ancient souls in the traffic’ (track 3). On the introduction to ‘Itchy grooves in the city’, track 4, a circular breathing pulse builds the tones into an insistent drive that the percussion and drums pick up and run with. The live recording seems to have the bass quite low in the mix although its main role is to provide arco support to the developing drones, as well as focussing on adding to the rhythmic layers. The use of effects, particularly on track like 'Breath, thrill and wet melody' (track 5) often creates sounds that seem to come from insects and animals in a forest.
The track titles, with their references to dream time and walkabout reflect the origins of the didgeridoo but the music retains a very contemporary edge without attempting to recreate or appropriate the musical traditions of the instrument. As such, this is modern context for an ancient instrument that creates moody and atmospheric music.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
SLAM: SLAMCD591
Christian Muela: didgeridoo, fx; Roberto Bellatalla: double bass, bells; Ivan Macera: drums, percussion
Recorded 4th March 2017 by Davide Abruzzzese at GrooveFarm, Rome.
This trio specialises in using traditional instruments in the context of free improvisation. As you might expect from the choice of didgeridoo as the focal instrument, this set involves the development of drones that are layered on top of a scuttling percussion. As the pieces develop, the drums set up a beat that syncopates the bass and drones, as in ‘Ancient souls in the traffic’ (track 3). On the introduction to ‘Itchy grooves in the city’, track 4, a circular breathing pulse builds the tones into an insistent drive that the percussion and drums pick up and run with. The live recording seems to have the bass quite low in the mix although its main role is to provide arco support to the developing drones, as well as focussing on adding to the rhythmic layers. The use of effects, particularly on track like 'Breath, thrill and wet melody' (track 5) often creates sounds that seem to come from insects and animals in a forest.
The track titles, with their references to dream time and walkabout reflect the origins of the didgeridoo but the music retains a very contemporary edge without attempting to recreate or appropriate the musical traditions of the instrument. As such, this is modern context for an ancient instrument that creates moody and atmospheric music.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
