The Sound Between Us is the space where freejazz, electronic and experimental electroacoustic music intersect. This is usually a place fraught with danger, an unkept, self indulgent place where misguided egos or sheer musical incomprehensibility seem to be the rule of thumb. Yet this duo recording between the Greek artists Spyweirdos (aka Spyros Polychronopolous), who offers electronics, processing, programming and production and improv jazz guy Floros Floridis who provides reeds, loops and live electronics is like a beacon in the darkness. Perhaps it’s because the pieces gestated over a 5 year recording period, or because the duo had worked together previously.
Subtle searching layers of wind instruments, perhaps clarinet or oboe and piano intersect with these fragmented house orientated clicks and cuts and it all sounds amazing. There’s also field recordings, these subtle hums and all manner of electronic sound, pushing things into a very sound art orientated world, but then the percussive glitches kick in and we’re back at the intersection. This duo who also play live occasionally with Alva Noto, manage to combine the music with the non musical and the results are compelling, textures, blips and repetitive loops collide with the subtle squeal of saxophone or other reed instruments. It’s sound art like you always knew it could be. Neither the acoustic instruments or or Spyweirdos’ electronics take charge and assert themselves over the pieces, rather it feels very much like a shared exploration as they twist and roll, defying expectation and categorisation and start from scratch, developing a new language with each successive piece. It’s intensely lyrical, a little messy and highly emotive, in short it’s nothing short of amazing.
Bob Baker Fish
