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Beresford Hammond Hume: The Lightning Bell
ByThe trio's acoustic guitar, cello and piano combine to improvise eight mellow pieces that are simultaneously tight but loose; they are all acousticbeautifully simple and simply beautiful. The three instruments click together, each adopting a role that sounds natural while perfectly complementing the other two. It is a neat trick which they manage to pull off again and again. As in Fourth Pagebut not on The Science of SnowBeresford also contributes improvised vocal passages to several tracks here; three of the longer tracks are solely instrumental and work well as such, never sounding like they need the addition of vocals.
When Beresford's vocals are present, it feels as if he spontaneously starts singing, as naturally as he would play guitar. On two further tracks there is a surprise, the addition of the English singer-songwriter Judie Tzuke, a friend and neighbour of Hume's who said she wanted to try something different so was invited along to a couple of informal sessions. On the tracks in question, Tzuke sings with Beresford, the two interacting as well as the instruments do, their voices sounding comfortable with each other and the instrumental accompaniment. As the YouTube clip below suggests, it would be no surprise if Tzuke were to make the trio up to a quartet next time out; the results would make interesting listening.
Meanwhile, The Lightning Bell is an exquisite hour of music that will appeal to followers of a broad range of genres from folk to improv. Highly recommended.
Track Listing
Call the Time; Feather War Cast; Then the Cloud Comes; The Heavy Branch; Laid Bare; As if All was Within; In the Dark Hours; The Last Port.
Personnel
Charlie Beresford
guitar, acousticCharlie Beresford: acoustic guitar, voice; Sonia Hammond: cello; Carolyn Hume: piano; Judie Tzuke: voice (3, 7).
Album information
Title: The Lightning Bell | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Self Produced
Comments
About Charlie Beresford
Instrument: Guitar, acoustic
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