Morgenthaler/Röllin/Ruben

The Red Alert or Alarmdstufe Rot expressed here is a Northern European variant of the power trio, but with musical versatility substituted for Metal vaingloriousness. Part of the reason is that the group’s core is the Swiss duo of guitarist and trombonist Robert Morgenthaler with their sequences given extra zest with use of plugged-in effects. Joining them is Estonian drummer Tanel Ruben. Ruben has worked with nearby players like Anders Jormin and Jukka Perko; while each Swiss have been part of bands such as Unart 4.0 and Ensemble 5.

Some of the tunes depend on Ruben’s backbeat and shuffles and Röllin’s string-ringing guitar flanges and twangs plus trombonist’s inner tube vocalization and huffing snorts. However individualism is signaled not only with the squirmy lucidity of  timbral emphasis, but also the continuum created on the bottom of each track upon which improvisations take place. That low-pitched ostinato is as likely to arise from thick bass string tone repetition from the guitarist or lowered plunger blats from the trombonist as from drum ruffs. Turns towards march time call for more percussive backbeats, while the few suggestions of lyricism as on “Shadow Lights” are defined by Röllin’s string emphasis and moderated strums with equivalent portamento trombone antiphony. It’s tune like this where the Jazz background of the players come to the fore.

Again while Morgenthaler does add the odd “jazzy” riff to the proceedings with gutbucket or tailgate turns, those tracks which best define the trio integrate more influences. The title track for example  moves from the trombonist’s plunger portamento to half-valve honking and hocketing at the same time as Röllin strums and twangs his higher strings without upsetting the low-pitched ostinato. Buzzing guitar counterpoint is backed by Ruben’s pops and paradiddles, concluding with a unison groove. “Saitensprung”, which ends the disc is both measured and melodic with a long-lined string introduction joining Morgenthaler’s systematic brass tones to amplify the exposition as both solo and accompany simultaneously. The trombonist’s triplet-laden climax is then strengthened by drum smack and string strums.

Stradling rhythm and reflection the trio’s music affiliations are expected and exclusive throughout.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Insect 2. So Low 3. Riff for M 4. Running Wild  5. Metaxa 6. Alarmstufe  Rot 7. Shadow Lights 8. Weird Talk 9. Saitensprung

Personnel: Robert Morgenthaler (trombone and effects); Urs Röllin (guitar and effects) and Tanel Ruben (drums)