Cracked Refraction

Jazz | Feb 2012

Reviews

Fo
Reviewed 2012-02-26
KYLE BRUCKMANN’S WRACK: Cracked Refraction
Porter, 2012

AVANT-GARDE – Oboist Bruckmann is based in Oakland, but he maintains Chicago roots through this improvising chamber quintet. It’s an unusual sound with low reeds, strings and drums, and compositions built up from the juxtaposition and contrast of small, discrete elements: percolating rhythmic phrases and free improv solos set against forceful rhythms, modern-classical motifs or lazily drifting soundscapes.

Fo’s Picks: 2, 4, 5, 7

1. 5:45 – driving, rhythmic & spiky, a variety of interludes, brisk free horn solo
2. 12:56 – calm intro, then busy drums; percolating little groove under cool oboe solo; calms for brooding viola/bass but clarinet gets wild
3. 9:13 – free improv drifts into a slow, methodical exploration of dark places
4. 8:25 – slow horns in careful conversation over wide open bass/drums
5. 7:13 – oblique lines over fast drums, horn solos break free & wail
6. 10:49 – yikes… sour dissonances over a maddening bounce and rising drones/clatter; quiet squeaks dominate the middle third
7. 9:09 – gentle, exotic melody with marimba, drifts in open space

[ Fo ] - February 2012

Recent airplay

The Dishevelator
Memory SelectApr 27, 2012
Njbc
RebopApr 10, 2012
The Dishevelator
RebopApr 03, 2012
Njbc
No Cover, $5 MinimumMar 30, 2012
Notwithstanding
RebopMar 27, 2012
Njbc
Ghost TreesMar 05, 2012

Charting

2012-03-02 — 2012-05-05 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
Apr 29 1
Apr 15 1
Apr 8 1
Apr 1 2
Mar 11 1

Track listing

1. Exacerbator
2. Notwithstanding
3. Ratchetforms
4. Fair To Middling
5. The Dishevelator
6. A Shambles
7. Njbc