Bartleby The Scrivener

BODRATO/BATTAGLIA/MASSARIA/FURIA: Bartleby the Scrivener
Evil Rabbit, 2013

AVANT-JAZZ – This collective quartet out of Italy blends a tight, simpatico feel with unpredictable tunes. They stretch in multiple directions without sounding chaotic or grating, but also change from one texture/mood to another with little warning (on nearly every track).

Fo’s Picks: 2, 5, 6, 7, 10

1. 5:07 – very quiet, sedate at first; falls into soft patterns w/spiky interjections
2. 12:40 – scattered droplets and trills; then moody, open space that stretches way out; 2nd half is chugging, then quietly speedy/jittery ‘til end
3. 7:57 – slow, with tender piano; quiet longing becomes a lopsided march
4. 5:18 – bass intro; prodding vs. amorphous guitar; then wide-open & weird
5. 5:32 – soft pendulum over bass drone / slow & open with scattered drums
6. 6:05 – weirdo guitar & piano; quiet drum solo; troubled quartet rumble
7. 4:40 – slow and calm, almost a ballad; piano searches, bass shadows it
8. 5:13 – lightly scattered quartet, first half steady, 2nd half slow & gauzy
9. 5:04 – dark, mysterious; slips into solo piano ache, then odd clockwork
10. 10:47 – complex rhythmic interplay at multiple tempos, fast to slow, with each section focused around a different player
11. 6:22 – slow start, bleak, ominous clock of doom, then wide open & fragile

[ Fo ] - 2 January 2014