Guitarist Ben Monder had initially wanted to do a series of duets with drummer Paul Motian for this album, but alas God had other plans and took the drummer away after the two had recorded only two songs, “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” and ‘Triffids.” Monder then employed Andew Cyrille for some more drum-guitar meetings, and brought in Pete Rende/synth to complete the project. What you get here is a collection of aural abstractions that feel more ambient than swinging.
Monder’s guitar teams with Motian on a time standing still reading of “Oh What A Beautiful Morning” and with Rende, sounds like he’s doing a Brian Eno session on “Tendrils” and “Gamma Crucis.” With Cyrille, “Zithium” is loose and languid piece, which fits in with the melancholic and dreamy mood of the entire album. Sonic wallpaper of various hues.
ECM Records