Dans les arbres - Canopée [CD]

Dans les arbres - the unique improvising quartet comprising three Norwegians and a Frenchman - continues to fine-tune its artistic concept, patiently traversing its luminous planes of sound with a rare sense of accord, and shared responsibilities. The combination of its unorthodox sound sources, including Xavier Charles's clarinet harmonics, Christian Wallumrød's prepared piano, Ivar Grydeland's bowed banjo, and Ingar Zach's differentiated gran cassa playing has led to free playing and spontaneous group-composing in a class of its own. <p>Following their formation in 2006, the group's ECM debut in 2008, titled simply Dans les arbres, generated many rave reviews, with The Wire declaring it "a most extraordinary and compelling achievement...There's no end to the delights of this quite magical disc." The magic is intact on Canopée, recorded in June 2010 and April 2011 in Oslo.</p> <p>Their music moves gently but steadily and broadly ahead, the textural scenery changing as DLA harnesses its wealth of unusual extended techniques. Small movements precipitate gradual sonic transformations. Sounds are carefully nurtured and encouraged to glow. Responsibilities are very equally shared as textures are blended. All four musicians are skilled improvisers, but no one is claiming or struggling for solo space. There seems, rather, to be a group mind at work, with strong compositional instincts. Where DLA's debut album was all-acoustic, this time Grydeland has brought his electric guitar into the sound picture. If it thickens the plot, it is never permitted to overpower the delicate sonic palette.</p> <p>Personnel: Xavier Charles (clarinet, harmonica), Ivar Grydeland (electric guitar, banjo, sruti), Christian Wallumrød (prepared piano, harmonium), Ingar Zach (gran cassa, percussion)</p>