Guitarist Anthony Pirog is this area's Fripp. At least that's what I like to tell newbies and out-of-towners. For those of us who've seen Anthony with The Messthetics, it's a description which is not a stretch in the least. When his guitar is combined with the drums of Brendan Canty and the bass of Joe Lally, the music takes on a spirit and force which is wildly invigorating. Pirog's newest release favors collaborations of a different sort, though Anthony's guitar is still the star here, of course.
The Nepenthe Series, Vol. 1 saw the light of day after Pirog asked a set of players to offer up ambient tracks which he could play over. The directions yielded some star turns here, though this is a Pirog record. And, of course, ambient can be defined in a variety of ways. Opener "Ripples of Light" finds Nels Cline (Wilco) and Pirog conjuring up the mood of those old Fripp/Eno records, while "Inflorescence" pairs Pirog's guitar and synth with the axe of Andy Summers of The Police. The number is elegant, with lines of melody traced out and a distinct hook pursued. Elsewhere, "Aurora", a pairing with John Frusciante (ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers), is more ambient that noisy, with the soundscapes here largely enveloping ones.
Where The Nepenthe Series, Vol. 1 works best is on the numbers with collaborators from closer to home. The space-y "Dense Blazing Star" taps out a path through the void with Luke Stewart (Blacks' Myths) on electric bass, while "Glowing Gesture" lets Pirog team up with his wife, Janel Leppin in a new context from their Janel & Anthony records. Here, with Pirog on guitar and Leppin on steel guitar, the music becomes less a duel and more of a hypnotic exploration of the possibilities each player can suggest. Like most of this record, this is a good deal less ferocious than anything Anthony's done with The Messthetics so far, but that's fine. Pirog's talents are immense, and he's capable of both laying down fire, and tracing out new routes to listening bliss.
The Nepenthe Series, Vol. 1 by Anthony Pirog is out now via Otherly Love. Details below.