Search - John Zorn, Fred Frith :: Art of Memory

A very naked - "Naked City"

simon.willcocks@ntlworld.com | Surrey, England | 10/22/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"" The Art of Memory" presents Zorn & Frith embarking on some solo improvisations. At times very sparse, dark and threatening, it feels like the building blocks of more 'Naked City' excursions (The Ladder). Not as exciting as other Zorn - Frith collaborations, but still very engaging."

Some sparkling mad moments around lightly plotted dementia

IRate | 11/29/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"2 1/2



Not one of Zorn's (along with frequent collaborator Fred Frith on guitar)strongest improvisational spats, this extremely stripped down, ugly rumination on memory sees the stark duo rushing down eight different, though similar sounding textural rabbit holes, producing more of an over-indulgent experiment then anything else. Still, noise-aficionados and Zornaphiles will likely embrace what was probably one of the eccentric composer's least structured and tonal works in some time, which meant quite a lot to the choir material like this may preach to. Pockets of sheer head-bursting, talented weirdness pervade the mostly shallow and slightly rewarding output...just don't expect the experience to add up to anything more then various moments of anti-music freakout finesse."