Home » Full Catalogue » CURRAN, ALVIN: Endangered Species (Dbl CD)
CURRAN, ALVIN: Endangered Species (Dbl CD)
Put on your shelf next to Derek Bailey’s Ballads and Ground Zero plays Standards; Alvin takes the golden songbook on a
tour through the badlands [a type of dry terrain
characterized by ‘steep slopes, minimal vegetation, lack of a substantial regolith
[do I have to explain everything godammit?] and
high drainage density’. Using the Yamaha™ Disklavier to control both piano and
a ridiculous gallimaufry of disruptive, quotidian and exotic sounds, Alvin
plays, interprets, mangles and dreamily noodles his way through Gershwin,
Weill, Rogers & Hart, Eubie Blake, Ellington, Johnny Green, Harold Arden,
Hoagy Carmichael, Fats Waller, and the like, in a seriously complicated and
organic manner. Some records defy reduction and this is one of them - one of a
few. Like Yaweh – or was it Popeye (or Walt Whitman) – it is what it is; and it contradicts itself; it contains
multitudes. Some will say it’s just a raft of deconstructed piano standards
battling it out with a cacophony of deranged noises-off. But you get to choose.
Management recommends you don’t try to listen to it, just get on with your life
and let it wash over you, drawing you in when it does. (It does - every time
different). I count this an important record, because it tries to do an
important thing; but not everyone will agree. . [apologies; this release is so expensive due to the effect of politics on exchange rates].
Code: 80804-2
Price: £30.00
