Though in the end Plays Sinebag never flies into bantering cliché, instead becoming a mad dash through an acoustic wilderness with a feverish gusto.
A dazzling interlude of wavering, warm tonalities froth and recede gently throughout the opener “Semaphores” on the latest release by German composer Alexander Schubert. Plays Sinebag is at times out jazz with hefty riffs of jangled keys and mountainous layers of fiercely expedited rhythmical hijinx as heard on “A Few Plateaus.” Swaying from asymmetrical percussion to electro-acoustics this record is far from the pop it predicts. The record has four shorter tracks (each under a few minutes) balancing the remainder in which Schubert tactfully arranges various street voices with frentic chords and ambience. “Vowels,” for instance, is a lovely short interlude that whispers of delicate vibes and bass curves. If the recording were only this track stretched to an hour I’d be lulled to inebrium. The pace is cinematic, widening its tensions into light as if the sun were setting on the solstice, anticipating and receiving change all along its path. In its lengthier conclusion, “Wake-Up Fly Ray” is something of a bouquet of the unexpected. Saturated in flourishes that dance gently and countered with original harmonies that don’t play endlessly..a tempest of coloration. Albeit this finale is a bit contorted, relishing forlornly in its free-spiritedness at times – there are passing references to sci-fi, Cecil Taylor and bloated Saturday cartoons. Though in the end Plays Sinebag never flies into bantering cliché, instead becoming a mad dash through an acoustic wilderness with a feverish gusto.
Plays Sinebag is out now on Ahornfelder. [Purchase]
[audio:http://igloomag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Alexander_Schubert_-_plays_Sinebag_-_A_Few_Plateaus_snippet2.mp3|titles=Alexander Schubert “A Few Plateaus” snippet] [audio:http://igloomag.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Alexander_Schubert_-_plays_Sinebag_-_Wake-Up_Fly_Ray_snippet2.mp3|titles=Alexander Schubert “Wake Up, Fly Ray” snippet]