Grdina, Gordon / East Van Strings / Breathing Of Statues, The
Album: Breathing Of Statues, The   Collection:Jazz
Artist:Grdina, Gordon / East Van Strings   Added:Jan 2010
Label:Songlines Recordings  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2010-03-21 Pull Date: 2010-05-23 Charts: Jazz
Week Ending: May 2 Mar 28
Airplays: 1 3

Recent Airplay
1. Dec 28, 2012: No Cover, No Minimum
The Breathing Of Statues
4. Mar 26, 2010: Memory Select, late edition
Silence Of Paintings
2. Dec 21, 2010: The Musical Mystery Box o'Fun (Best of 2010-Part 1)
Origin
5. Mar 25, 2010: orangeasm
Naveli Joon
3. May 01, 2010: Music Casserole
Origin
6. Mar 23, 2010: Ambient Annoyance
Origin

Album Review
Fo
Reviewed 2010-03-21
GORDON GRDINA’S EAST VAN STRINGS: The Breathing of Statues
Songlines, 2009

AVANT-GARDE – String quartet out of Vancouver, a carefully controlled chamber sound with a razor-sharp improvisational edge and elusive whiffs of tragedy and madness running throughout. Good mix of icily cerebral composition and sometimes raw, visceral execution.

* * * * | Fo’s Picks: 2, 3, 4, 8

1. 5:27 – melancholy guitar rises over aching, somewhat dissonant drone
2. 3:39 – bold, slashing statements, densely layered harmonies, calm middle
3. 5:25 – goes “out” with harsh, aggressive scrapings and open, quiet spaces
4. 7:24 – knotty theme; a series of tense improv breakdowns & cinematic runs
5. 3:07 – oud picks and broods over alien buzzing, thick near-east atmosphere
6. 3:34 – harsh burst, then strident, layered melody… settles into moodiness
7. 4:28 – slow ebb & flow; becomes calm, pretty, dreamlike
8. 14:07 – serious intro, expressive solo oud alternates with exotic ensemble swirls; slow cello solo opens it up in second half, caravan march
9. 8:13 – calm melodies flow/ooze; open, amorphous at first, finds its way later

[ Fo ] 03/21/10

Track Listing
1. Selma   5. Santiago
2. Holy Departure   6. Webern
3. Silence Of Paintings   7. Naveli Joon
4. Origin   8. The Breathing Of Statues
  9. Wide Open