Oren Ambarchi, Johan Berthling, Andreas Werliin – Ghosted II
Drag Metropolis
You’d be forgiven for considering that, on the second outing of his Ghosted trio, Oren Ambarchi had ditched his guitar.
Ghosted II—which additionally options Swedes Johan Berthling (bass) and Andreas Werliin (drums)—maintains the rhythm part’s crispy minimalism, groovy succulence, and repetitive polyrhythmic aptitude. However the Australian composer’s eccentric guitar phrasing seems to have been changed by a number of synths.
These keyboardlike sounds might be knife-edged and chimelike, like an electrical organ in a unhealthy temper, as on the bass harmonic-filled, tightly patterned “Två” (the tracks are named after Swedish numerals—this one’s quantity two), or crackling and corrosive, as on the fizzy opener “En.” Nevertheless, in keeping with Drag Metropolis, the band’s adventurous label, Ambarchi is certainly enjoying guitar, although the secrets and techniques of his sonic alchemy stay mysterious.
However maybe technical specifics are irrelevant. What’s necessary is how Ambarchi makes use of his transmogrified tones to each stretch and floor his group’s extremely intuitive songs, lending grainy texture to transcendental zone-outs and twinkling, ultraviolet coloration to propulsive toe-tappers.
By the point brittle, harplike cascades of picked notes seem round midway by “Tre,” you’ll be so locked into the trio’s instinctual, unstoppable momentum that you just gained’t instantly discover the emergence of a particular emotional arc: “Fyra” ends the album with a processional sequence of extra splintery notes, in the end blooming into a 100%, totally recognizable guitar riff to wrap issues up.
Fittingly for an album whose title seems like a sequel, Ghosted II boasts a sturdy decision that nonetheless looks like a new starting. GRADE: A-
You’ll be able to try Ghosted II on Bandcamp and elsewhere.
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