Fred Frith/Mariá Portugal

Continuing his long tradition of interdependent duets, and uniquely partnering with a percussionist, UK guitarist Fred Frith creates another distinctive program. The drummer here  is Brazilian Mariá Portugal, who has worked with among others Simon Nabatov and Paula Sanchez. Then again Frith is no stranger to working with drummers, from his earliest days with Henry Cow to later meetings in larger or smaller Free Improv groups.

Although Portugal is three decades younger than Frith, the connection is immediate and profound with idiophone clanks, rattles and rolls from singularly emphasized parts of the kit and percussion extensions meeting the jagged picks or consistent strums from the guitarist. Tinges of e-bow string sibilation and terse interludes of folksy melodies are part of the four improvisations.

With plaintive, percussive and prompt sequences introduced at points throughout, other motifs ranging from electronic fizzes, bass drum accents and Rock-like fuzz tones and string squeaks enter the mix. Unexpectedly as well on the concluding “O tempo e sua secura” not only are there snatches of Portugal’s high-pitched and yearning syllables and wordless whimpers, but Frith also vocalizes some throaty gargles and cries to match the  thick low-string twangs from his guitar.

“See Through Blind” is the most elongated and specific of these unique duets. String rubs vibrate with squeezed tenacity as they move downwards while the percussionist adds metallic clips and measured rebounds. Once a noticeable lyrical fragment appears and quickly vanishes  at the half way mark, closely clenched guitar frails and speedy hand patting cadences ascend and then conclude as simple rumbles and pops are matched with restrained string vibrations.

Now that Frith and Portugal have proven how impressively in sync they are one-on-one, perhaps there’s nothing the Matter with expanding the duo into interaction with others in the future.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Things Considered 2. See Through Blind 3. Looking Up 4. O tempo e sua secura

Personnel: Fred Frith (guitar and voice) and Mariá Portugal (drums, percussion and voice)