A poetic image of writer Herman Melville – «I love all men who dive» – connects American multi-instrumentalist Shahzad Ali Ismaily, in his first ever solo release, with Belgian most versatile euphonium player Niels Van Heertum. Both were inspired by the sea and its covert world, both offer contemplative-enigmatic soundscapes that keep their organic, acoustic nature. Ismaily and Van Heertum split the vinyl sea legs / hum back, each has his own side of the album, but they do not intertwine.
Ismaily, known from Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog and his work with Lou Reed, John Zorn, Bonnie Prince Billy and Bill Frisell. The side A, «sea legs», was recorded on November 2018. He, plays the guitar, banjo, shaker and occasionally adds wordless vocals. This is a fragile, meditative soundscape that makes full usage of the resonant sounds of the strings instruments to suggest strong cinematic images of a journey in quiet and lonesome seaside sceneries.
«hum back» is the second solo work of Van Heertum, following his «JK’s kamer +50.92509° +03.84800°» (granvat/Smeraldina-Rima, 2017) and it was recorded a month after Ismaily recorded his part. He adds the euphonium organ and conch shells to his trusted euphonium. He begins with «Urlicht» that borrows a theme from Gustav Mahler and adds background noises to stress the dramatic effect. «Bowhead» spices the drama with some mysterious, aquatic calls, cries and fanfares. «Fugu» dives deeper, into unchartered dark oceans. This sea journey is concluded of with the quiet, emotional meditation of «martim».
40 minutes impressive experience that will navigate you far away from the daily pains and frustrations or thoughts about the dark global future.
Eyal Hareuveni
Shahzad Ali Ismaily (g, bjo, shaker, Niels Van Heertum (eupho, eupho. organ, conch shells)
