Using an arsenal of acoustic instruments including zither,
antique classical guitars, tenor banjo and parlor guitar, Alan Sondheim brings these traditional sounding instruments into
the realm of improvisation along with Myk Freedman whose lap steel playing adds an air of serenity to these astonishingly
crafted songs.From frantic playing to oddly moving songs, “Julu Twine” moves through a wide
range of emotions while firmly declaring a singular vision.The music on “Julu Twine” is best
described as improvised folk music with leanings toward the experimental.
Alan Sondheim
Myk Freedman
REVIEW:
ALAN SONDHEIM IS A LEGENDARY WRITER AND CRITIC, HE'S ALSO QUITE THE
ACCOMPLISHED MUSICIAN. THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT IS IN FACT NOT ARCHIVAL BUT A BRAND NEW RECORD, RELEASED ON THE INSANELY
PROLIFIC AND ALWAYS IMPRESSIVE PORTER RECORDS, ON JULU TWINE SONDHEIM TEAMED UP WITH LAP STEEL GUITARIST MYK FREEDMAN FOR
SOME IMPROVISED FOLK, THAT MANAGES TO BRISTLE WITH ENERGY, SOUNDING QUITE ABSTRACT AT MOMENTS, BUT SURPRISINGLY COMPOSED AT
OTHERS.
INCORPORATING
A UNIQUE ARSENAL OF INSTRUMENTS, INCLUDING ZITHER, BANJO SLIDE GUITAR AND EVEN SOMETHING CALLED A PARLOR GUITAR, THE DUO CRAFTED
THIS GORGEOUS SONG SUITE, THE PLAYING IS OFTEN QUITE PERCUSSIVE, AND AGGRESSIVE, SUBTLE STRUMMING AND ABSTRACT FINGER PICKING
IS ALL TANGLED UP WITH INTENSE STRUMMING, AND ATONAL SCRABBLING, HERE AND THERE THE INSTRUMENTS ARE WREATHED IN THICK BUZZING
FEEDBACK, OTHER TIMES THE MELODIES ARE SPIDERY AND ABSTRACT AND ALLOWED TO UNFURL LAZILY. SONDHEIM CONTRIBUTES A KICK ASS
BANJO SOLO, THAT SOUNDS SIMULTANEOUSLY LIKE CLASSIC BLUEGRASS, BUT ALSO SLIGHTLY CHAOTIC AND SEAT-OF-THE-PANTS SOUNDING. FREEDMAN
COUNTERS WITH A GORGEOUSLY LANGUID SLIDE GUITAR SOLO, ALL DRIFTY AND WOOZY AND ETHEREAL, BUT THE RECORD WORKS BEST WHEN THE
TWO PLAY TOGETHER, AND OFF OF EACH OTHER. LOTS OF REVERB AND ROOM SOUND, STRANGE HAUNTING EASTERN SOUNDING MELODIES, OCCASIONAL
SQUALLS OF DETUNED HILLBILLY PSYCH FREAKOUTS, STUMBLING LURCHING ATONAL MELODIES DRIFTING INTO SOFT SHIMMERING AVANT APPALACHIA,
SQUIGGLY SLIPPERY SLIDE WOUND ALL AROUND OFF KILTER CHROMATIC RIFFING, AND ONCE IN A WHILE, THE TWO COME TOGETHER PERFECTLY
AND UNFURL A WARM WASHED OUT DRONE-Y GUITAR RAGA, THAT WE WISH WOULD JUST GO ON AND ON AND ON.
EVERYONE INTO BLACKSHAW AND ROSE AND BISHOP AND BALDWIN
AND AHMED AND AKIYAMA AND OTHER MODERN ACOUSTIC GUITARISTS SHOULD DEFINITELY CHECK THIS OUT. SAME SORT OF SOUND, BUT WAY MORE
TRIPPED OUT AND OTHERWORLDLY AND MYSTERIOUS AND JAZZLIKE. RECOMMENDED!!!
