THE SOUND OF SILENCE
Luigi Nono pushed classical into electronica. The forward rush continues with rock guitarist Nels Cline putting the guitar into free jazz, once the domain of saxophones and double basses.
THE NELS CLINE SINGERS
At Safari Sam’s [no label, 1CD]
Live in West Hollywood, CA, December 5, 2007.
Nobody sings in the Nels Cline Singers.
Cline who was born in 1956, has had a long, illustrious career playing guitar with Charlie Haden, Gregg Bendian, Wadada Leo Smith and in bands like the Geraldine Fibbers and Mike Watt’s The Black Gang. He has also released two albums with Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore. Cline is currently resident guitarist with Wilco, the alt-rock band.
But it is in the Nels Cline Singers that Cline makes his instrument “sing”. Cline isn’t as bombastic as Santana but can deliver notes equally fluid. Note the many turns on the final track of this concert. Something About David H. starts as a ballad, building the melody line note for note. Subtly the pace quickens, the late-night riffs give way to a nightmarish scold but Cline holds your attention with his dream-like performance. And he doesn’t have to shout “Oh yeah! Alright!”
Cline seems comfortable described as a rock guitarist but his output suggests otherwise. With drummer Bendian, Cline reimagined John Coltrane’s Interstellar Space as well as a tribute album to Andrew Hill, New Monastery. His guitarings suggest a strong affection for free jazz and on this night he takes on Monk’s Jackieing and Andrew Hill’s Dedication substituting the piano with the 12-string guitar. The Singers are a trio with upright bassist Devin Hoff and drummer/electronica player Scott Amendola.
Much of this performance is geared towards late-night listening but when required Scott Amendola can dish out a wallop and Cline’s guitar can howl like a rocker’s, or squeal like free jazz and kick post-punk shit Sonic Youth would be proud of. So you know, the free jazz tracks are Sunken Song and Attempted. The latter is what most rock fans would admire.
The place the Nels Cline Singers want to be is experimental. The moodscapes on this particular performance are terribly quiet, a sense of dread for the perpetually waiting. If the latest album’s title is any clue, Draw Breath must be the sound that you are alive.
Last February, Cline was chosen by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the Top 20 New Guitar Gods and given the title “The Avant Romantic”. Hopefully, this music will set you thinking just what music is all about.
Live recording by Art Granoff using AKGC61’s xy @ the stage lip center> 744t > mac > flac and shared by paneltour. This version has phase correction and volume increased. Extra work by Tom P [Phillips] who also shared this version. This is the (TomP) Remaster. Thanks to all the sharers. - The Little Chicken
1 Squirrel of God
2 Sunken Song
3 Jackieing (T. Monk)
4 Attempted
5 Dedication (Andrew Hill)
6 Something About David H.
Click here to download the tracks.
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