Fusebox <\/em>is a fitting title for the new album by saxophonist Ras Moshe Burnett<\/strong> and vocalist\/electronic musician Dafna Naphtali<\/strong>. \u00a0There is always a point of connection between the two performers, even when they are deliberately ignoring or playing against one another.\u00a0 The dynamic, complex interactions that occur in the music they make together are evidence of their strong partnership as musical collaborators.<\/p>\n One element of the album that immediately stands out is the mix; often the two dry signals will be panned off to the side to make room in the stereo field for the wild, spacey effected sounds being manipulated live by Ms. Naphtali.\u00a0 This allows for the exploration of a wide dynamic range and bold contrasting timbres from both performers.\u00a0 The choice to process Mr. Burnett\u2019s tenor saxophone in tandem with Naphtali\u2019s own voice also creates fascinating moments of tension and release, placing short loops in larger contexts as in the opening track Hall of Mirrors<\/em>.\u00a0 The two performers play off each other well no matter what kind of material they are working with; glitchy percussive jump-cuts are navigated with the same ease and attention to detail as long-form modal explorations.<\/p>\n This duo\u2019s unique improvisational style touches on elements from a wide range of influences.\u00a0 Track 5, Short Fuse<\/em>, is a pointed dialogue with Naphtali reacting to Burnett in ways that are reminiscent of other great improvisers such as Ikue Mori or Charmaine Lee.\u00a0 Track 8, Dervish<\/em>, leans into the groove of made up of tight percussion and delayed saxophone loops and sounds like it would fit right in on a Flying Lotus album.\u00a0 There are many unexpected surprises to be discovered as well; the processed \u201cshhhh\u201d sounds on the track Two Equals Free <\/em>are sometimes suggestive of a snare drum.\u00a0 Hearing something totally unique is one of the most rewarding aspects of listening to improvised music, and this album exceeds expectations.<\/p>\n Making beautiful music with the human voice involves so much more than simply delivering the musical material through the vehicle of a text. \u00a0On this release Naphtali opts for a more organic approach, never sticking to any particular words but instead moving between different types of sounds such as phonemes, tongue clicks, and various consonants in order to best accompany Burnett or stand out on her own.\u00a0 In choosing to use her voice in this way, Naphtali can fluctuate rapidly between roles as foreground, background, percussion, texture, noise, or any combination of elements.\u00a0 Augmenting her formidable vocal talents with live processing adds another layer of depth and beauty to her improvisation.<\/p>\nA Unique Approach<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nTranscending Limitations<\/strong><\/h3>\n