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Silent Movies
Current price: $17.99
Barnes and Noble
Silent Movies
Current price: $17.99
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On his third recording for the indie
imprint -- home to some of the more exciting jazz recordings in the 21st century -- guitarist
takes yet another turn in his prolific career.
is a collection of 13 solo guitar pieces, recorded in complete takes with minimal sonic atmospherics added in overdub. The album was partially inspired by his experience of playing live as accompanist to a screening of
's film The Kid. Some of these tunes were composed for
's documentary El General and others for Drunk Boat (unreleased). This is mostly the deeply melodic side of
. These utterly lovely works (all written by the guitarist save for the album's final track) ask questions -- often delicately, always deliberately -- about the mysterious element that creates image from sound in the mind of a listener. While there isn't a dull moment here, there is a certain kind of reverie that is evoked in the hearing. Even at its most animated, such as on the flamenco-inspired
the self-evidently titled
or the two-minute feedback-laden introduction to
(which gives way to one of the most haunting melodic works here), there is a sense of space surrounding this music that is arresting in focus and even stillness.
employs a gentle sense of dissonance that creates a mood juxtaposition, one that evokes idealism, pragmatism, and authoritarianism.
touches on jazz, classical music,
's compositions, and even
's more humorous moments. The set's final cut,
is the title song to
's film of the same name and was a hit for
.
employs both elegance and a specific rawness (not in technique but in the physicality of the guitar's sound) to get at the emotion in the melody as sung by the great vocalist. He doesn't so much re-create it as expand its range of color and texture, even when it gives way to restrained sonic textures and white noise as the album whispers to a close. For those interested in one of the more compelling and quietly provocative and graceful guitar records of 2010,
is well worth seeking out. ~ Thom Jurek