Slow Music Project

Open Sesame!

Slow Music Project

Aladdin Theater, Portland Oregon 5^th May 2006
DGM Live

In between his on-stage stints as REM’s drummer, multi-instrumentalist Bill Rieflin has always found time for some engaging projects. These include his fine solo album of superior Sylvian-twisted songs, Birth of a Giant, the retro chamber pop miniaturism of Largo (with ex-Ministry / Revolting Cock, Chris Connelly), the jagged improv-rock of Repercussions Of Angelic Behaviour (the best King Crimson projeKct KC never did), as well as frequent stints with UK alt pop jangler, Robyn Hitchcock.

Never one to sit still for long, in 2005 his latest side project, Slow Music, made a one-off live appearance and recorded a short but sweet debut album of entirely improvised music.

Having enjoyed the remarkably egoless experience so much, REM’s Peter Buck, King Crimson’s Robert Fripp, bassist Fred Chalenor, keyboard player Hector Zazou, drummer Matt Chamberlain reconvened under Rieflin’s directorship in 2006 to undertake a short tour of West Coast USA.

Working within the constraints of Slow Music’s guiding principles - the music would be entirely improvised, that it should take time to explore emergent ideas, and participants resist the urge to fill in the gaps – the result is surprisingly reminiscent of the pointillistic output of the UK improvised music scene of the 70s and 80s.

The mood throughout the two sets which form this album is cautious and reflective as the players listen intently. Governed by short interactions, sporadic dabs of notes and timbre are smeared, rubbed and occasionally dropped onto the overall picture.

It’s probably pointless to single out the activities of individuals but Fred Chalenor’s exquisite acoustic bass is a masterclass in good taste and Matt Chamberlain’s ruminations on the drums accentuates or underscore the action rather than feeling the need to push the moment along. The second set’s percussive explorations and occasional jolts offer a more forceful dynamic enabling Peter Buck to soar away on some old-school glissando guitar.

Though the overall mood created by this electro-acoustic hybrid may be sedate, you won't find it lacking in either intensity or drama. The combination of a group in search of their collective muse, ably supported by an extremely attentive audience, provides the listener with an embarrassment of riches.