As laptop artist Dave Miller, trumpet player Phil Slater, and drummer Laurence Pike (also of Pivot and Triosk) have only performed together on a handful of occasions, Roam The Hello Clouds exists as something of a freeform collective, one which deals in shuffling, at times, chaotic longform improvisations that show an obvious sense of ensemble unity. This work, the fruit of but a single day’s efforts spent in the recording studio, displays a fine economy of discipline, risk, and control in the playing, generating a momentum that is seldom interrupted, and an organic, albeit sometimes predictable, organic development.
Despite its impromptu recording methods, much of the music is, in fact, agreeably conversational. This is true of earlier pieces, when the timbre of Slater’ trumpet blends with the electronics, while electronic and percussion also manage to find common ground. Especially during the latter half of the work, though, a softer ambience dissolves and reshapes the expanded auditory field established during the earlier, rhythm-driven pieces, allowing works to sink into extended, scudding hubbubs or other such sedate bluster.
The less homogeneous works, by default, are the most interesting. Although Miller’ electronics can occasionally sound like so many distracting mannerisms, on ‘Sprinter’ they add absorbing micro-tonal subtleties – in the form of creaks, rattles, and ostinato warbles – to Slater’, melodic, warm-toned trumpet playing. In addition to this, the depth and warmth of Pike’ steady drumming, asides from opening up a space for exploration, proves a well-suited foil for the acidity and shallowness of some of the electronic tinkering. As a first step, then, Near Misses is an enjoyable meeting of like intuitions, and their music, though in need of time to develop and grow, forges enough relationships and contrasts for one to hope that it receives precisely that.
Max Schaefer
