The Squid's Ear Magazine


Earth Tongues (Costa / Peck / Moffett): Rune (Neither/Nor Records)

Paying attention to tone, tension, space and silence, the trio of Carlo Costa on percussion, Joe Moffett on trumpet, and Dan Peck on tuba use extended and unusual techniques in a meditative and highly concentrative album of free improvisation, the first album from this trio whose attentive approach to improvisation rewards in unique sonic environments.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Joe Moffett-trumpet

Dan Peck-tuba, cassette player

Carlo Costa-percussion


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UPC: 700261421537

Label: Neither/Nor Records
Catalog ID: n/n 003
Squidco Product Code: 21228

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2015
Country: USA
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded by Jonathan Goldberger at Firehouse Space, Brooklyn on January 17, 2014

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"An ensemble dedicated to exploring the scope and scale of experimental improvised music, Earth Tongues approaches each performance as a chance to build new, challenging work that take silence and ambient sound into full account. Consisting of Carlo Costa on percussion, Joe Moffett on trumpet, and Dan Peck on tuba, the trio creates immersive pieces that weave through a Venn diagram of music, noise, and quiet. Earth Tongues' debut album Rune approaches the boundaries of these three facets head-on. As the title suggests, the sounds that appear act as symbols to an unspoken language, suffused with meaning while remaining un-translated and open to interpretation. The ensemble gradually draws the listener deep into a new world of sound, piecing together a landscape scattered with glyphs, hidden forests, frost, tape, and stone."-Neither/Nor Records



"Carlo Costa: On our first record, Rune (also on Neither/Nor Records) we released four improvisations which display the type of interaction we have been developing since our first concerts. The traditional roles and sounds of the instruments are cast aside for the most part and the music often develops at a slow pace. The use of silence and low volume are an integral part of the musical vocabulary and especially in the sparser moments each small action or variation has structural weight. Some moments of the recording suggest a sound environment, which is something that we further developed in Ohio [their second album].

Dan Peck: The student of sculpture asks, "What can I make with this clay?" Earth Tongues asks, "What is the nature of clay?" "

"By fastidiously juxtaposing the communal benignity of various non-figurative jargons - all of them founded on timbral, rather than linear characteristics - Joe Moffett, Dan Peck and Carlo Costa propose different angles, both to the recipients at home and themselves as extremely alert improvisers. Originated by variable techniques of emission, unendingly changing their impulsiveness inside a setting recalling an ancient rite carried out in total reconditeness of meaning, these sounds demand, take and exercise space as they grab the attention slowly but steadily. In spite of the palette's divergence - as opposed to more "classic" free improv formats - tuba, trumpet and percussion display a relatively tranquil coexistence, either in noisier contexts ("Sunblind") or more brooding flows ("Depths"). Early-age reverberations, clashing (or less) overtones and a general composure in the reciprocation of acoustic intents complete the definition of sonorities that, for the large part, are pretty interesting."-Massimo Ricci, Touching Extreme


Get additional information at Touching Extremes

Artist Biographies

"New York-based trumpeter, improviser, and composer Joe Moffett approaches his work with a keen interest in unconventional sounds and forms, collective composition, and the intersection of words and music. He is co-founder of a number of ensembles such as Earth Tongues, with percussionist Carlo Costa and tubist Dan Peck; the Kaplan/Merega/Moffett Trio, which released its debut, Crows and Motives, in 2014 on Underwolf Records; and Trismegistus with bassist Sean Ali, trombonist Ben Gerstein, percussionist Devin Gray. Moffett's explorations into text and music are evident in his work with the experimental art song duo Twins of El Dorado, with vocalist Kristin Slipp. The ensemble's debut, Portend the End, was released on Prom Night Records in 2013."

-Neither/Nor Records (http://www.neithernorrecords.com/neithernorrecords/artists.html)
3/25/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Dan is a tubist currently living and working in New York City. Since his move there in 2005, he has been active as a soloist, improviser, and sideman in a wide variety of settings. Dan's current interests are in experimental music and improvisation, and he has performed at many of New York City's most respected venues for creative music including The Stone, Roulette, and Issue Project Room. Dan has collaborated with many New York artists, including Tony Malaby, Nate Wooley, Michael Attias, Ben Gerstein, Tom Rainey, Peter Evans, Kris Davis, Ingrid Laubrock, and Matthew Welch. Recent projects include recordings with Tony Malaby's Novela (Clean Feed), Harris Eisenstadt's Canada Day Octet (482 Music), and Jeff Newell's New Trad Band. Dan will also be on a forthcoming Anthony Braxton release, featuring music from the Falling River Series in small ensembles from Wesleyan University.

Dan currently leads a trio comprised of himself, Tom Blancarte (bass) and Brian Osborne (percussion). The group plays a mix of freely improvised music and his compositions, some of which are influenced by music of the Doom Metal genre. Their debut LP, "Acid Soil", is out on the Heat Retention Records label. In March of 2011, the Trio completed a 9 day tour of the midwest/east coast.

Equally at home in more traditional jazz settings, Dan plays in the old-timey jazz band Grandpa Musselman and His Syncopators. The Syncopators appear frequently at high society events in and around New York City, and in 2007 took part in the Jazz at Aspen Festival, directed by bassist Christian McBride.

Dan also plays a lot of contemporary music. He has premiered solo tuba works at St. Bartholomew's Church, Merkin Hall, and The Stone. In 2009, Dan was featured as part of Kagel Nacht, a celebration of the music of composer Mauricio Kagel, in which he performed two of Kagel's solo works, Atem and Mirum. As an orchestral performer, Dan has played under great conductors such as James Levine and Herbert Blomstedt, and has worked personally with composers such as Helmut Lachenmann and Alvin Lucier. Dan is a member of the International Contemporary Ensemble, and has also worked with the American Composers Orchestra, Signal Ensemble, New York City Ballet, New World Symphony, and the Tanglewood Festival Orchestra. Dan recently recorded a DVD of Iannis Xenakis' chamber music for Mode Records, with the International Contemporary Ensemble and percussionist Steven Schick conducting.

Currently, Dan plays on the Broadway musical Chicago, and is adjunct-faculty at New Jersey City University."

-Dan Peck Website (http://danpeckmusic.com/bio.html)
3/25/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Percussionist and composer Carlo Costa was born in Rome, Italy. In 2001 he moved to Boston to study music. Since 2005 he has been living in New York City where he regularly performs as a leader and co-leader of various projects, as well as a sideman. Carlo is currently primarily involved with experimental and improvised music and is an active composer for his ensembles and ad hoc projects. He has performed throughout Europe and the US in a wide variety of contexts.

Carlo currently leads or co-leads Natura Morta (a trio with violist Frantz Loriot and bassist Sean Ali), the Carlo Costa Quartet (with trombonist Steve Swell, saxophonist Jonathan Moritz and bassist Sean Ali), Earth Tongues (with trumpeter Joe Moffett and tubist Dan Peck), the large ensemble Acustica, the trio Ancient Enemies (with alto saxophonist Nathaniel Morgan and violist Joanna Mattrey), and a solo percussion project. In November 2014 Carlo launched the record label Neither/Nor Records which is dedicated to experimental and improvised music."

-Carlo Costa Website (http://www.carlocostamusic.com/carlocostamusic/biography.html)
3/25/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Porous Phase 17:02

2. Sunblind 7:32

3. Lithosphere 15:19

4. Depths 9:54

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Trio Recordings
lowercase, reductionist, micro-improv, sound improv, onkyo sound

Search for other titles on the label:
Neither/Nor Records.


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