|
|
|
BANDS: Punk
& Ska INTERESTS: Venues ETC... About LOTD
|
Gordian
Knot: Emergent
Is the whole greater than the sum of its parts? Such is the question that Gordian Knot asks the listener to contemplate. And no matter your philosophical loyalties, let me tell you that Gordian Knot makes a damn fine case that Emergent is indeed greater than the sum of its parts. The entire album, from the enigmatic cover art to the hypnotic strains of the Chapman stick, suggests a strange but enchanting mathematical structure. Like non-Euclidean geometry, Emergent serves both to perplex and to entice. And its not so clear that this is unintentional (by the way, see if you can find the reference to "Gdel, Escher, Bach" in the artwork). Gordian Knot is an all instrumental rock group, headed by bass guitar/Chapman Stick virtuoso Sean Malone. In addition to Malone, Gordian Knot is comprised of a stellar group of musicians: Jason Gobel - guitars (Cynic), Bill Bruford - drums (King Crimson, Yes, Genesis), Steve Hackett - guitars (Genesis), Jim Matheos - guitars (Fates Warning), Sean Reinhart - drums (Cynic), and Paul Masvidal - guitars (Cynic). As for whom Gordian Knot sounds like, the only thing I can say is that they sound like Gordian Knot. Their music is original and diverse enough to eliminate the possibility of any illuminating comparisons. Imprecisely, Emergent is instrumental rock/metal with a strong jazz influence. But this description surely leaves the uninitiated just as clueless as before. If you really want to know what Emergent sounds like, then you would have to take instrumental hard rock and combine it with avant-garde jazz, tribal drumming, a Mediterranean tango, the Fibonacci sequence, music from the Andromeda galaxy, and the sound of a giant wave crashing into a cliff. This would roughly approximate about five seconds of Emergent. The easier and more exciting option would be to listen to the album. And when you do, one of the first things that you will notice is how well these accomplished musicians play together. Often in instrumental rock/metal, the guitar plays the dominant role and the other instruments are purely secondary. On Emergent, each instrument finds its place in a subtle and interesting way. There are many guitar solos, but they dont occupy the forefront. Much of Emergent is about musical exploration of the finest kind. Entrancing bass lines weave in and out of crunchy guitar riffs, spicy percussion sections, and stunning melodies. Sometimes one instrument is accentuated over the rest. Other times, all the instruments blend together in a remarkable unison. The pace of each composition is ever-changing, from slow and tuneful passages to massive flurries of notes that reach a crescendo and then die down just as soon as you are beginning to understand them. Despite its complex character, Emergent remains always interesting, always coherent, and always, well, musical. On Muttersprache, Emergent gets kicked into high gear with a heavy and galloping guitar riff that reappears intermittently throughout the song. On this track, like most of Gordian Knots music, if you dont pay attention, then you will surely miss out. The time changes in Muttersprache are awesome, some subtle and some obvious. The song builds to a powerful crescendo, with the bass and guitar working together to create a moving melody, the drums hammering out an energetic rhythm, and all sorts of complimentary instruments, mostly keyboards, adding the flourishes. The feel of the song is nothing short of incredible, and every successive listen brings more of its colors into focus. Another choice moment occurs on the fourth track, Fishers Gambit. Shortly into the song, we are treated to a delicious Spanish sounding guitar piece, courtesy of Jim Matheos. This section is emblematic of Gordian Knot in general. It wanders, explores, and unfolds, yet always remains methodical. Emergent is ripe with these distinctive passages better for you to listen to them than for me to describe them. In the end, I cant easily decide to whom I should recommend Emergent. The music is interesting and brilliant. On the other hand, it is deeply challenging. Should its complexity detract form its mass appeal? I dont know. And perhaps thats not even the right kind of question to ask. Perhaps, the better question is whether Gordian Knot would give you the kind of experience that you would want to have. To the adventurous, I invite you to give Emergent a try. Listen to it casually on some occasions and carefully on others, and (most of all) give it time to sink in. The beauty therein will be your reward.
This album can be purchased at Amazon, Insound, and CD Universe About LOTD Contact/Staff Advertise Home All content © LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved. |
