Breathing Of Statues, The

Grdina, Gordon / East Van Strings
Songlines Recordings
Jazz | Jan 2010

Reviews

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

Recent airplay

The Breathing Of Statues
No Cover, No MinimumDec 28, 2012
Origin
Music CasseroleMay 01, 2010
Silence Of Paintings
Naveli Joon
orangeasmMar 25, 2010
Origin
Ambient AnnoyanceMar 23, 2010

Charting

2010-03-21 — 2010-05-23 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
May 2 1
Mar 28 3

Track listing

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