Dragon's Head
Reviews
Fo
Reviewed 2008-12-07
Reviewed 2008-12-07
MARY HALVORSON TRIO: Dragon’s Head
Firehouse12, 2008
AVANT-GARDE – Debut recording of a postmodern trio that’s been working for two years, led by a busy young guitarist who’s also part of Anthony Braxton’s circle. The group has an oblique, chunky approach that’s wholly original; check out the distortion details in Halvorson’s guitar tones, and the emphasis on odd rhythms and group balance.
All tracks good. Fo’s Picks: 2, 3, 4, 7, 9
1. 7:46 – stepping-stone melody: tiptoeing guitar against a heavy bass tread
2. 7:52 – clockwork rhythms vs. warped, crashing tones; gets calm, then harsh
3. 2:28 – packs a lot into a small space: stutters into and out of spinning riffs
4. 3:23 – agitated, falls into jittery mechanical rhythms
5. 3:56 – minimalist: calm bass vs. jabbing guitar/drums, loud crashing breaks
6. 5:19 – alternately relaxed & melodic / suspenseful & insistent
7. 6:38 – warped, spindly guitar lines & chewy bass; becomes a sort of march
8. 7:43 – low & slinky, with high guitar undulation; spaces out in second half
9. 5:36 – quick pulse; drops to solo guitar, storms back, stays noisy for a while
10. 4:40 – insistent spirals, then quiet and thoughtful, but troubled…
[ Fo ] 7-Dec-08
Firehouse12, 2008
AVANT-GARDE – Debut recording of a postmodern trio that’s been working for two years, led by a busy young guitarist who’s also part of Anthony Braxton’s circle. The group has an oblique, chunky approach that’s wholly original; check out the distortion details in Halvorson’s guitar tones, and the emphasis on odd rhythms and group balance.
All tracks good. Fo’s Picks: 2, 3, 4, 7, 9
1. 7:46 – stepping-stone melody: tiptoeing guitar against a heavy bass tread
2. 7:52 – clockwork rhythms vs. warped, crashing tones; gets calm, then harsh
3. 2:28 – packs a lot into a small space: stutters into and out of spinning riffs
4. 3:23 – agitated, falls into jittery mechanical rhythms
5. 3:56 – minimalist: calm bass vs. jabbing guitar/drums, loud crashing breaks
6. 5:19 – alternately relaxed & melodic / suspenseful & insistent
7. 6:38 – warped, spindly guitar lines & chewy bass; becomes a sort of march
8. 7:43 – low & slinky, with high guitar undulation; spaces out in second half
9. 5:36 – quick pulse; drops to solo guitar, storms back, stays noisy for a while
10. 4:40 – insistent spirals, then quiet and thoughtful, but troubled…
[ Fo ] 7-Dec-08
Recent airplay
Screws Loose
Music Casserole — Oct 12, 2024
Momentary Lapse
Rebop (rebroadcast from Aug 7, 2015) — Mar 24, 2022
Momentary Lapse
Rebop — Aug 07, 2015
Momentary Lapse
Rebop — Aug 15, 2014
Dragon's Head
Rebop — May 08, 2012
Momentary Lapse
Memory Select — Aug 19, 2010
Charting
2008-12-07 — 2009-02-08
Jazz
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Feb 8 | 1 |
| Feb 1 | 1 |
| Jan 18 | 1 |
| Jan 4 | 4 |
| Dec 28 | 1 |
| Dec 21 | 1 |
| Dec 14 | 2 |
Track listing
| 1. | Old Nine Two Six Four Two Dies | ||
| 2. | Momentary Lapse | ||
| 3. | Screws Loose | ||
| 4. | Scant Frame | ||
| 5. | Sweeter Than You | ||
| 6. | Sank Silver Purple White | ||
| 7. | Too Many Ties | ||
| 8. | Totally Opaque | ||
| 9. | Dragon's Head | ||
| 10. | April April May |