Roland Dahinden/Hildegard Kleeb/Cameron Harris

June 2, 2021

Dancing a Stone
Fundacja Sluchaj FSR 12/2020

Christiane Bopp/Jean-Marc Foussat/Emmanuelle Parrenin
Nature Still
Fou Records FR CD 40

One wouldn’t figure that there are that many permutations that can transpire during an improvised session involved a trombone, a chordal instrument and electronics. But these imposing trio discs prove otherwise. Curiously enough each is the converse of the other with acoustic impulses more prominent on Dancing a Stone and electronic impulses dominating on Nature Still. Perhaps one reason for this is that British-South African electronic manipulator Cameron Harris, plus trombonist Roland Dahinden and pianist Hildegard Kleeb, both Swiss who have also both commissioned scores from Anthony Braxton and John Cage, usually work on the notated side of the ledger. Meanwhile trombonist Christiane Bopp and synthesizer player Jean-Marc Foussat, both French are firmly wedded to the free music world playing with Joëlle Léandre and many others. French hurdy-gurdy player Emmanuelle Parrenin is a special case being immersed in traditional folk music as well as improvisation.

During Nature Still however the blending of hurdy-gurdy drones and analogue synthesizer wave forms keeps those intonations firmly in the electro-acoustic sound field. Despite the hudy-gurdy’s supposed violin-like timbres the current produced by Parrenin locks into Foussat’s vibrating oscillations. The whooshes and dissected textures from the two are so machine-like that only Bopp’s plunger tones and stretched variations appear acoustic. Additionally the multiphonic expositions featuring nuzzling bagpipe-chanter like timbres programmed metal-echoing raps and capillary honks are further splintered with the entry of clear or synthesized vocals that move in and out of hearing to become more murmurs than words. “Still Morte”, the extended, but quietly defining track, demonstrates the trio’s close connection as shrill buzzing from the AKS waves into a connection with thick capillary blasts from Bopp. Soon her brassy snores are underlined by the synthesizer’s tremolo whines and the crackles and crinkles from the cranked hurdy-gurdy. This produces a cumulative watery undertone that dominates the narrative until a shofar-like cry from the trombonist signals a lyrical breakthrough that defines the climax, with a harmonized obbligato to Parrenin’s softly vocalized bell canto melody.

While no part of the Dahinden/Kleeb/Harris program is that melodic movement is always towards pure acoustic, with electronics playing a secondary role. On “Remembrance of Line” for instance, and other tracks, Harris’ propelled crinkles and programmed puffs neatly fade into the background as plunger brass tones and hunt-and-peck piano expositions move upfront. Kleeb’s stop-start and jumps from light to dark comping and vice versa carefully defines the relationship. In fact when the trio eventually integrates individual ideas during the lengthy “A Line That Is Not My Own” undulating electronic whooshes and echoing metallic brass are united behind dry keyboard comping. The piano so positions the performances into near chamber music precision that it unites and gentles suctioned synthesized squeezes and brass yelps into thematic clatter then silence. From that mid-point to the CD’s end, the narratives move constantly towards unfussy solidity. Dahinden has space for spluttering vibrations, bubbling smears, yapping bites and swift glissandi. But like Bopp’s work on the other disc, the direction is three-pronged group music, not showiness.

United in creativity, although taking opposite sides of electronic or acoustic playing, both trios create confident programs.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: Nature: 1. Nature Morte 2. Nature Live 3. Still Morte 4. Still Live

Personnel: Nature: Christiane Bopp (trombone and voice); Emmanuelle Parrenin (hurdy-gurdy and voice) and Jean-Marc Foussat (AKS synthesizer and voice)

Track Listing: Dancing: 1. Another Place To Live 2. Remembrance of Line 3. Footprints Yellow Red and Blue 4. Window of Time 5. A Line That Is Not My Own 6. Houses from another Street 7. Dancing a Stone 8. Tulips and Whispering 9. Lines and Margins

Personnel: Dancing: Roland Dahinden (trombone); Hildegard Kleeb (piano) and Cameron Harris (electronics)