Recorded on the ECM label in 1986, the "Cloud About Mercury" album still sounds contemporary, fresh and adventurous. Released again in 2019 it's probably one of David Torn's best known works. Great guitar playing by Torn who is masterful at coaxing unique sound sculptures from his guitars. The rhythm section consists of Bill Bruford playing Simmons drums and Tony Levin on Chapman Stick and synth bass. Impeccable playing by both musicians at the top of their game.. Mark Isham adds his exceptional trumpet and flugelhorn playing to round off this incredible quartet of musicians playing some timeless music. 5 stars without a doubt!
Cloud About Mercury was recorded in 1986 and it takes time to grow on you, but it's a beautiful record. It really stands up to repeated plays. You gradually uncover subtle mysteries in the music. This album is hard to classify, I have been a fan of ECM since the mid-1970s but this is not the typical ECM album, mainly because Torn plays loud electric guitar.
Torn assembled a great band for this date: Bill Bruford (drums), Tony Levin (Chapman Stick/bass), and Mark Isham (trumpets). Bill Bruford and Levin were really rock musicians at the time, but this is not really a jazz or a traditional fusion record. However, it is one of my favorite ECM/jazz/fusion records of the 1980s.
David Torn and Mark Isham also feature on Mike Shrieve's great 1989 album "Stilleto", which is also worth a listen.
5つ星のうち4.0I think this recording is a good example of musicians setting up grooves and listening to ...
2017年11月21日にアメリカ合衆国でレビュー済み
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Atmospheric ensemble playing. I think this recording is a good example of musicians setting up grooves and listening to each other. I bought this when it came out back in '87 on cassette just to hear Tony Levin play the Chapman Stick. Fortunately the other musicians and the performances where worth listening to all these years later. Probably not what I'd put on for dinner music, but certainly good for cleaning the cob webs out of your ear and helping you listen deeper. The album after this, Door X, is a 180 degree turn from Cloud About Mercury , but that's another story.