Cimini, Amy / Young, Katherine

Architeuthis Walks on Land

Label: Set Projects Country: USA

What's not to like about a CD that sports a floppy squid cutout sewn into the spine? What's even more impressive is that this free improv release from violist Amy Cimini and bassoon and accordionist Katherine Young, who are both part of Civil War (longbox recordings), takes the listener from the dark squiggly deep sea into upper plankton-strewn sea shimmering with sunlight... alright, alright! enough of the squid analogies! But it's hard not to with an album cover so near and dear to our heart, and which also happens to be a great tonal improv record. The pieces use pacing and dynamics, Cimini and Young allowing the music to slowly unfold over twilight transitions of drones and pulsing tones, and then engaging in odd discourse with a curmudgeonly but articulate attitude. Both are excellent players with strange but informed ideas that slip and slide through the 7 tracks, each simply titled by its length. The Architeuthis walks on land indeed!