Sea Of Lead

Improv duets between pianist Fernandez and late bassist Kowald. Lots of nonmusical sounds: scratchy or squeaky bass strings, or plucking/pounding of the piano strings. Abstract stuff that varies between placid and dark.

Hailing from Germany, Kowald was a well respected figure in improv circles. Our library includes a nice trio session he did with Gino Robair (drums) and Miya Masaoka (koto) locally -- it's under Kowald/Masaoka/Robair, title "Illuminations," on the Rastascan label. It's one of several great albums we have involving Kowald -- do check it out.

1- Fast groany bass, mid/fast clatter
2- Wailing swirl. Then calmly dissonant screeches
3- Slow, industrial clangs and groans
4- Quiet rubber-band bass
5- Quiet but fast. Squeaks and flutters.
6- Harsh pounding/squeaks, then a mid/fast musical duet
7- Pensive mid/slow, played "straight" (i.e. mostly normal music)
8- Fast, w/nice pitter-patter piano interlude that I think quotes Cecil Taylor
9- Brisk, mid/fast, almost jazzy in a spiky-aggressive way
10- Dark and dramatic, with some throat singing from Kowald (yes, he was schooled in Tuvan throat singing)
11- Sparse clatter: Low twang of piano strings getting bashed.