The new self-titled record from Lee Renaldo and associates, Lee Ranaldo / Jim Jarmusch / Marc Urselli / Balázs Pándi is a good example of how to do drones effectively. The release, out now via Trost, is full of concise sonic explorations of the sort that should please fans of these musicians, as well as those who grew up on those Fripp/Eno albums, for example.
The players here -- Lee Renaldo (guitar, pedals, bells), Jim Jarmusch (guitar, pedals, midi-synthesizer), Marc Urselli (bass, laptop), and Balazs Pandi (drums) -- tackle this material with a lightness of touch that ensures that nothing here is too pretentious. Kudos too to producer Marc Urselli for guaranteeing the approach used here never quite seems too precious or too arty. This is simple music of the best kind.
Opener "Andvari" is drone-y and insistent, while the longer "Bergelmir" sees the players take brief excursions around the main figure, the percussive elements here adding a near-jazzy vibe to this one. Elsewhere, the epic-length "Groa" achieves a meditative calm, despite the faint bursts of guitar or bass exploding in the distance. With the presence of director Jim Jarmusch here, one is tempted to hear this like it's a soundtrack, and that's fine too. The music on this cut is elegant and space-y. And perhaps the biggest surprise throughout Lee Ranaldo / Jim Jarmusch / Marc Urselli / Balázs Pándi is how spacious the music is.
Lee Ranaldo / Jim Jarmusch / Marc Urselli / Balázs Pándi is out now via Trost Records. More details via the official Facebook page for the label.
[Photo: Anna Bogaciovas]