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CD
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RER SM5
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"Careful compositions converse with focused improvisations under the precise direction of Steve MacLean who, on this CD, after various excursions that took him through experimental works for piano, interactive insect/guitar compositions and pure electronics, returns to a performing band and a journey through complex polyrhythmic compositions imaginatively intercut with careful, atmospheric inventions, for guitar, bass, keyboard, percussion and various objects. There is a quiet rigor, almost a formality, about this release, quite unusual in modern electric music - the compositions, which follow the remarkable parallel-metre style pioneered in his under-rated classic Opposite of War, are almost understated and, throughout, overproduction is strenuously avoided so that the recordings can concentrate on the human scale of the performances. The improvisations, too, don't strive for effect, the players concerning themselves exclusively with structure and content. In other words, this is a solid, almost old-fashioned, unashamedly musical, record that celebrates distinctive compositions, high performance values and imaginative playing."
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