HANG ON TIGHT!! Justin DeHart: Strange Paths, Mary Ellen Childs: Wreck

Minnesota-based Innova Records specializes in producing music that is original, experimental and creative. Not for the faint of heart. You’ll never get something that is tried and true from these guys. The same can be said for this latest couple of albums.

Justin DeHart is accompanied by no one except his chops and imagination on this collection of four songs (one being a suite) that features percussion, percussion and PERCUSSION! The songs range from 11-24 minutes, sometimes emphasizing repetitive licks (“XY”) and other times delving into intricate cross rhythms (“Psappha”). “They Looked Like Strangers” has him  emphasizing vibes on the four part suite, with an impressive array of stories to tell with just a pair of hands. Not exactly background music for wine tasting, but a good inspiration for anyone learning the rudiments.

Wreck was composed for a full-length dance work composed by Mary Ellen Childs and performed by Pat O’Keefe/cl, Laura Harada/violin, Michelle Kinney/cel, Jacqueline Ultan/cel and pater O’Gorman/perc. The 18 pieces in this 54 minute collage include music that evokes images of Britten (“Wreck Theme”), to Afro-Cuban themes (“The Lake”). A good portion of the music has an eerie and spooky quality to it, with the strings sawing away in a jarring fashion to prepare you for the build up climax. Moods that evoke dark shadows and foreboding permeate most of the material here. Stay away from sharp objects!

 Innova Records

www.innova.mu

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