togetherness
| Format | CD |
| Country | USA |
| Recorded | 2000-2001 |
| Issued | 2001 |
| Label | Etherdrag |
| Cat no. | 004 |
| Playing time | 49:47 |
| Reviewer | Rikard A Toftesund |
| KRAKATOA togetherness |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||
Last time we heard from Krakatoa was in connection with the debut album Plan Ahead (reviewed in Tarkus no 13). Since then, the group has moved from Philadelphia to Brooklyn NY, and settled down in the space around the avant-jazz scene Knitting Factory (and the circles surrounding John Zorn's Masada). The material, by the way, has very little to do with "traditional" avant jazz, this is wily and lively chamber prog of the unmistakable American/Canadian kind (Hamster Theatre, Interferences Sardines, Miriodor), in other words, seriously arranged pieces verging towards Klezmer music and Balkan folk music as well as fusion, pop, vaudeville and "neo-classical" compositions. The tracks often move in very intricate figures, while at the same time having a playful overtone which reduces the most pretentious artistic language. This playful atmosphere supported by constants breakings in drive and harmonies, gives Togetherness a cinematic stamp where the music sort of speaks independently from an imaginary text - even if there are sporadic vocal lines. Instrumentally, cello and violin dominates in conjunction with unmanipulated piano- and guitar lines, in spite of the electric piano, organ, clavinet and the overdriven bass which takes up further space in the sound gallery. Technically, conseptually and compositionally, Krakatoa has definitely taken a step beyond the debut record. Unfortunately, this does not apply to the production side; Plan Ahead appealed with a confined "cellar" effect which gave the the material power and impulsiveness, white Togetherness aims for a more professional sound - something which is a matter of taste; if you enjoyed the debut album, you will definitely fall for this one as well.
© 2002 Tarkus Magazine