Borges/Piano/Stokart

A glimpse into the nuts and bolts of free improv construction, the timbral extrapolations evolving during this half-hour home recorded disc underline group invention and experimentation. An intense tête-à-tête among Portuguese drummer Sofia Borges, Slovenian guitarist Gašper Piano and Belgian guitarist Quentin Stokart measures heart monitor-like sonic ebb and flow. Young veterans all, Borges has recorded with the likes of Carlos Zíngaro and Ada Rave; Borges with Gal Furlan and Andrej Kobal; and Piano with Tom Malmendier and Frans Van Isacker

Beginning slowly with string clips and percussion shuffles, the echoing rumbles and stops soon affiliate with buzzing squeezes and affiliated string twangs as the pace speeds up from andante to vivace to presto. Aggressive foot-pedal-projected guitar drones help shake and shape the sequence as identities are defined. While Borges uses cymbal color and drum pumps to spangle and restrain unneeded fragmentation, one guitarist extrudes shakes and stops as he rubs up and down his instrument’s neck, while the other manipulates the lower strings of his guitar to replicate the electrified buzzes and stops of a bass guitar. During the subsequent section the delicacy of finger-tip pats are contrasted with the drummer’s harsh clatters and thumps until metallic refractions fade into a finale of concentrated singular Mylar pops and almost acoustic guitar string frails.

More of a first-stage showcase than a finished statement gqs is still a compelling peek into to the skill and though process of improvisers who should be better known.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. gqs

Personnel: Gašper Piano and Quentin Stokart (guitars) and Sofia Borges (drums)