by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

This is the second outing for the duo of guitarist / producer Leo Abrahams and drummer Martin France, pooling their considerable musical resources for four tracks of contemplation and improvisation.

The first instalment of Krononaut, released in 2021, featured guest appearances from Arve Henriksen, Matana Roberts and Shahzad Ismaily. This one is restricted to just the two musicians, and brings in a number of influences explored by Leo on this playlist for Arcana a few weeks back:

What’s the music like?

There is some rather special music making here. The sessions took place over the course of a single afternoon in Abrahams’ East London studio, and it’s possible to imagine the sunlight making a play on the studio walls, and the possibility of it shimmering through leaves as interpreted by Abrahams’ guitars.

These are intensely layered but full of melodic invention, either in short nuggets or in broad, arches. The descending motif that starts to take over in Spindle suggests an object moving down through the sky, doing so over a backdrop of rolling drums from France, before Abrahams’ guitar suggests Spanish influences in its rich harmonies. Meanwhile the rarefied atmosphere of Silver Silver gnaws at the tendrils of icy clouds high up in the atmosphere.

France’s drumming is entirely acoustic and often extremely intricate – but never overdone. He pushes the momentum forwards towards the end of Silver Silver, but contrasts with considerable restraint on Mirage, where Abrahams’ dreamy lines curl upward and take the lead.

PGC 20513 – which appears to be the name of a star in the constellation Gemini – gets an appropriately spacey backdrop, beautifully cast by Abrahams, with reverberation that sets the wide screen picture but ensures it is filled with complementary musical motifs. The longest composition here, it inhabits a far-off world, ending in a compressed cell of melodies from the guitar, rich in treble and prompted by steady hi-hats and rolling toms.

Does it all work?

Yes – it does. Moments and moods captured in sound, that would only sound this way once – which makes them all the more special.

Is it recommended?

Yes, enthusiastically. The chemistry between these two musicians is rather special, and the four meditations unfold naturally in a four-part suite that inspires the senses.

For fans of… Bill Laswell, Kit Downes, Harold Budd, Terry Riley

Listen and Buy

Published post no.2,276 – Tuesday 20 August 2024