Not that solo bass recordings signify a common commodity, but
Darin Gray
's solo electric bass outing might transcend any preconceived notions. Here, the artist stretches
avant-garde
standards or insinuations to the limit. He integrates the sounds of electrical contacts (input/output) with intermittent bass
noise
, steely-sounding effects, and fragmented lines. He uses his bass as a vehicle for producing moments of subtle expressionism amid sparsely fabricated manipulations. Sure, there are some interesting moments. Yet one often gets the feeling that
Gray
is performing for his own gratification, as this program elicits perceptions of a pet project. Overall, the artist conveys a fair amount of wit and ingenuity, but when viewed upon as a whole, his
improvisations
suffer from a plethora of intensely personalized abstractions. It just doesn't translate all that well. ~ Glenn Astarita