Setting aside the sax and keyboards from the Xavi Reija Quintet, Xavi Reija has reiterated and reinforced what was hinted at in the 2009 recording of the Electric Trio "Live at Casa Murada." The streamlined mechanism is spare without being sparse. It is not minimalist; it is deliberate and to the point.
Barcelona drummer Xavi Reija is jined by Bernat Hernandez on bass and the sizzling Dusan Jevtovic on guitar. The lean line-up is dynamic and daring. The compositions are by Reija himself or by the trio and the trio arranged all the songs. It was recorded in Tarragona, Spain in June of 2013 and produced by Reija for MoonJune Records, one of the undisputed leaders in all things progressive.
Even with three such startling innovators, it is the ensemble that is the fgrabs the attention. The whole is more in focus than are the individual parts.
"Flying to Nowhere" introduces the album with stark moments of distorted guitar but with full rhythms from Reija and rich textures from Hernandez' bass. It is a jazzy piece with surprising elements reminiscent of Robert Fripp's solo work.
"Macroscope" is more fusion-techno-ambient in its approach. Reija's rhtyhms are matched by the understated thunder of Hernandez to create a fantastic grrove as Jevtovic creates the lush, rich backdrop.
Barcelona drummer Xavi Reija is jined by Bernat Hernandez on bass and the sizzling Dusan Jevtovic on guitar. The lean line-up is dynamic and daring. The compositions are by Reija himself or by the trio and the trio arranged all the songs. It was recorded in Tarragona, Spain in June of 2013 and produced by Reija for MoonJune Records, one of the undisputed leaders in all things progressive.
Even with three such startling innovators, it is the ensemble that is the fgrabs the attention. The whole is more in focus than are the individual parts.
"Flying to Nowhere" introduces the album with stark moments of distorted guitar but with full rhythms from Reija and rich textures from Hernandez' bass. It is a jazzy piece with surprising elements reminiscent of Robert Fripp's solo work.
"Macroscope" is more fusion-techno-ambient in its approach. Reija's rhtyhms are matched by the understated thunder of Hernandez to create a fantastic grrove as Jevtovic creates the lush, rich backdrop.
Xavi Reija, Bernat Hernandez and Dusan Jevtovic "Shadowdance" is another fine in-the-pocket piece, as is "Dreamer" that follows it. The distorted frequencies screen the bass and drums on "Dreams" in a way both aggressive and relentless.
"Abyss" is another foray into ambient rhythm and avant-Jazz and serves as a great set-up for "The Land of the Sirenians" with its fine harmonic guitar and straight-up Jazz drumming.
"Unfinished Love," on the other hand, is nearly Afro-Cuban-Baroque. It is intricate and disciplined and completely enjoyable. It is another memorable groove with excellent guitar coverage that segues nicely into the grittier "John's Song." More menacing than most of the other tracks, "John's Song" is a heavier approach and attack which propels the listener forward.
"Resolution," the title track, is the cool-down groove that slides into "Gravity" with its leisurely stroll. That quickens into a trot and then into a sprint. Rich rhythms and sharp effects mark the piece.
The albums wraps up with "Welcome to the End." Reija and Hernandez anchor the piece as Jevtovic extrapolates on the theme.
"Resolution" is a furious and imaginative display of the disciplined and pulse-pounding rhythms (or polyrhythms) of Xavi Reija and Bernat Henrnandez in counter-play to the exploratory guitar work of Dusan Jevtovic. The creation of space is exhilarating. The sound is not a reduction of notes played but an expansion of what lies between. It is an expanding universe where the number of stars remains the same but that space...
Visit Xavi Reija at: http://xavireija.es
Like Reija at Facebook here.
Purchase "Resolution" here.
"Abyss" is another foray into ambient rhythm and avant-Jazz and serves as a great set-up for "The Land of the Sirenians" with its fine harmonic guitar and straight-up Jazz drumming.
"Unfinished Love," on the other hand, is nearly Afro-Cuban-Baroque. It is intricate and disciplined and completely enjoyable. It is another memorable groove with excellent guitar coverage that segues nicely into the grittier "John's Song." More menacing than most of the other tracks, "John's Song" is a heavier approach and attack which propels the listener forward.
"Resolution," the title track, is the cool-down groove that slides into "Gravity" with its leisurely stroll. That quickens into a trot and then into a sprint. Rich rhythms and sharp effects mark the piece.
The albums wraps up with "Welcome to the End." Reija and Hernandez anchor the piece as Jevtovic extrapolates on the theme.
"Resolution" is a furious and imaginative display of the disciplined and pulse-pounding rhythms (or polyrhythms) of Xavi Reija and Bernat Henrnandez in counter-play to the exploratory guitar work of Dusan Jevtovic. The creation of space is exhilarating. The sound is not a reduction of notes played but an expansion of what lies between. It is an expanding universe where the number of stars remains the same but that space...
Visit Xavi Reija at: http://xavireija.es
Like Reija at Facebook here.
Purchase "Resolution" here.
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