Present Time Excercises
Cameron Deas / Cam Deas : Quadtych volume 2 (US,2010)****+*''
I accidentally ordered one of both LPs instead of the CD that contained both LP’s, so in this case I can only judge and review part 3 and 4 of the total collection. Nice artwork.
I liked pretty much part 3 because in different sections, each with its own creative vision, it takes the time to develop its pickings in space, with a tension of resonating silence, with an ear to its created sounds. Almost like a rhythmical clock, resonating chords are developing itself in time and space like with a basic meditative melody. Like a raga, this develops rhythmically, speeding up a bit while taking its time in space, then returning to the sound of the strings themselves, rubbing the strings like a drone, and starting all over again in the same feeling for the basic formula of combined notes (the principle of raga). Within this subtle rubbing, the sensitivity for a melody appears again, pulsating like a life form finding its expression in different areas. The rubbing slowly becomes an oscillating rhythm, increasing speed, the melody appearing now within a bed of melody chords, while the strums increase with power and speed to make a highlighting conclusion. Simple resonating chords are left over like a new conclusion of the moment, before returning to a convincing fast picking melody, speeding up a bit and being played with skill.
Part 4 consists at first of fast picking arpeggios, then some out of tune chords are added. Here it is hard to understand its purpose. The track becomes nervous avant-garde with more loose strings resonating. There are rhythmical attacks with a certain feel for rhythm/picking direction, but with so many strings out of tune this becomes a blurry mess. Although I have heard of few successful unturned improvisations, like Steffen Basho-Junghans freshly unpacked guitars, in this case there’s not enough sonic balance and investigation to improve this idea because the ugliness of its combinations are still stronger. Only in the conclusion with a very fast almost droning rhythm this gives these string clusters a new sense, overcoming its content this way. In general I don’t think it was successful.
