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Nick Fraser: Is Life Long?
ByWhere another drummer might be eager to display labor-intensive feats of athleticism, Fraser chooses to be a colorist. The opening track "Quicksand" begins with long droning notes applied in parallel. Andrew Downing's cello and Rob Clutton's bass lay down bowed parts, Tony Malaby breathes a tribulation as Fraser scatters sticks across his kit. The 12-minute piece eventually opens into a conversation with all the players voicing seemingly different opinions. By the time a pulse is established there is a coherence about this composition, albeit a slippery and ambiguous one.
Fraser's galumph is infectious. "Disclosure" is a factory of sound with a mammoth engine that allows for Malaby to toss angular notes at the beast. Fraser makes fine use of the two stringed instruments. Both are either bowed, plucked, or a combination of techniques creating a cinematic sound. "Skeleton" delivers a sly melody, which midway through the disc has lured you into the quartet's world. Fraser, with momentum on his side, pushes "Arachnid," a piece brimming with energy as the players make the music into a four way confabulation.
Track Listing
Quicksand; Disclosure; Empathy; Skeleton; Arachnid; The Predictor.
Personnel
Nick Fraser
drumsNick Fraser: drums; Tony Malaby: saxophones; Andrew Downing: cello; Rob Clutton: bass.
Album information
Title: Is Life Long? | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Intakt Records
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