Radio Chongching: Radio Chongching

Dalaba executes bent notes and dark brooding lines enhanced by traces of echo, reverb and Gilmore’s cyclic yet pulsating rhythms on “Reveille”. Here and throughout most of this affair, the trumpeter implements layered soloing as the music and overall effects tend to be rather intriguing and otherworldly. Gilmore and Soler turn in pumping rhythms on the trance-like piece titled, “The Crawler” as the band makes good use of space in between measures and thematic statements. Whereas, “Nanjing 37” boasts a straight four pulse while Ms. Dalaba institutes multi-textural horn charts and subtle treatments amid her plaintive cries and expressive articulations. The band shocks the senses on the aptly titled piece “On Fire” which features cunning yet dreamlike ruminations atop recurring digital loops.

Overall, the music contained within Radio Chongching moves about with a relaxed sense of urgency as the musicians convey a vibe that might suggest a state of unconsciousness or bliss. Yet the surging and altogether prominent rhythms nicely and effectively contrast Ms. Dalaba’s potent discourses as the music casts a bewitching spell that invokes notions of desolate celestial bodies or barren voids! Recommended!

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Lesli Dalaba; Trumpet: Greg Gilmore; Drums: George Soler; Stick.

Track listing: 1) Reveille 2) The Drill 3) the Crawler 4) One Sharp tooth 5) Mask 6) Wake Up, Ivan 7) Passing 8) Nanjing 37 9) Dance Of the Floating Needle 10) On Fire 11) Halcyon In Flight

First World Music website: www.firstworldmusic.com

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