Composition, Improvisation, Creativity
Jeff Hodges | Denton, TX United States | 05/31/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As both a concept and a musical statement, "Modulator" is a tour-de-force of experimentalism. Spilling beyond the categorization of "rock" or "prog," it challenges the already hazy distinction between improvisation and composition. No secret has been made as to the creative process behind "Modulator," so you may already be aware that it began as a 50 minute drum solo by Marcus Minneman that Gunn wrote the album around. That Gunn can hear the kinds of musical possibilities expressed on "Modulator" within the framework of an unaccompanied drum solo bespeaks of a rare degree of musicianship and creativity.
The drum solo, itself improvised, is a testament to Minneman's percussive concept. The depth of his performance is impressive, even more so when you consider that it was conceived on the fly with no external feedback from another musical body. Gunn's compositional contribution, however, is often sublimely chaotic, as well. The net perception is that the performance is improvised, but, if reports are to be believed, the process was arduously mapped out. A closer listen reveals Gunn constantly interacting with Minneman, sometimes obviously, sometimes subtly.
Drawing focused comparisons is a little difficult, because "Modulator" is intended to be digested as a whole. There are no "singles." In the bigger picture, I catch just a little Patrick Moraz (which I'll further allude to in a moment) but most prominently, Gunn's musical contributions to King Crimson and the ProjeKCts are brought the forefront on "Modulator." Beyond this obvious comparison, I find I can also relate Modulator to Frank Zappa's more experimental work from his late 70s line-up with Bozzio and O'Hearn as well as his early 80s synclavier period.
Furthermore, the overall concept of "Modulator" is reminiscent of Zappa's infamous xenochronic experiments, in which two recordings pulled from unrelated performances were combined to create a unified composition. The potential xenochrony on "Modulator," however, is one-way. Minneman could not musically interact with Gunn, but Gunn had full access to Minneman through the exactness of the virtual studio. This sort of interaction was impossible in Zappa's day, when tape was the most reliable multitracking medium.
Listening to the recording, it is difficult to imagine these performances occurring without full interaction. There are definitely times when Gunn embraces the chaos, but more often than not, it seems that he imposes order. Undoubtedly, there is some blunt force trauma involved, but this is almost always tempered by Gunn's dreamy atmospherics. Most importantly, tension built is inevitably rewarded with a satisfying resolution. For example, the album closer "Hymn" is to "Modulator" as "Soon" was to the 1974 long-form Yes composition "Relayer." It breathes life, presenting a relatively soothing melodic end to a challenging yet rewarding listen.
THE LOWDOWN: Gunn's musical growth since I first took notice of him playing in Sunday All Over the World is astounding. For the uninitiated, this will be a brutal wake-up call to Gunn's brilliance as an experimentalist. There just is not enough of this kind of courageous work being done today, and certainly even less being done as well. This could shut down your next party, or, depending on what king of party you are having, send it careening totally out of control. I think it's a brilliant listen, but I admit to having eclectic tastes. The real question - can it be done live?
"
Another wonderful work from Trey (and Marco)
Kenneth Pyron | Plano, TX, US | 05/25/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The ability to take a 51 minute drum solo and make the music here sound as if it was nearly fully improvised is remarkable. The music to me generally sounds as if Trey took the lead, letting Marco play, and created a true "album", not simply a selection of songs. It's a fluid piece with amazing texture, always moving along. Just as you find yourself bopping along, all of a sudden a thorough deconstruction of that moment takes place, and a new moment arrives. Too me, it requires an active listen. Although I must admit, this album, played loud in my car, feels just as right as any other long haul music I have.
Two musicians who remain true to themselves and the music can create remarkable moments. This is several of them."
Not my usual
Nancy Burke | Boerne, TX, US | 05/25/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'm usual not a big fan of this genre, but I find myself listening to this over and over again. I love it in the evening as the sun goes down, out on the back porch. It seems haunting, soothing and yet uplifting too."
Track Listings (22) - Disc #1