Pastoral and contemplative moods abound on this collaboration between guitarist Marc Sinan and Oguz Buyukberber, who alternates between clarinet and bass clarinet for these 10 pieces. The tunes are divided between colors of “Upon Nothingness” and Roman Numerals of “Upon Nothingness,” with a couple of solo arias changing up the dynamics. The Five Part “Upon Nothingness”, a poignant observation from an artist that has a German-Turkish-Armenian background, is his response to hearing songs by Armenian prisoners in WWI during the Armenian genocide A clear and spacious electric guitar on “There V” and a bass clarinet aria on “There III” are rich illuminations, while the lower registered reed flutters with edgy guitar effects on “Yellow” and give some post bop elliptical phrases on “There II” while ruminating on “There I.” The straight licorice stick is calm, dreamy and woody during “There IV” with gorgeous long tones while Sinan adds old world vibrato to some static effects on the herky jerky and hectic “”Red.” Haunting ambience and reflections.
ECM Records