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Espial — The Act of Noticing
(Discus Music 172CD, 2024, CD / DL)

by Peter Thelen, Published 2024-07-10

The Act of Noticing Cover art

es·pi·al [əsˈpī(ə)l]: The act of detecting something; catching sight of something. David Beebee (electric piano, effects) and Martin Pyne (vibraphone, balafon, percussion) had worked together previously as a duo on the album Ripples; Espial came about via discussions regarding how to further extend that sound in a trio format, and Josephine Davies (soprano and tenor sax) was invited in, and thus the trio, as it exists on their debut album The Act of Noticing was born. The eleven pieces that comprise the album are almost entirely improvisational, and while the component parts might suggest elements of jazz, the result is far closer to ambient, dreamy sounds filled with beautiful melodic fragments of vibraphone, piano, saxophones, and more, floating freely as a natural evolutionary conversation between the three players; one can’t be sure how many takes and tries it took to reach this magical point where everything seems to be working perfectly, but it certainly seems that way throughout the recording. Few improvisations result in a sound so natural and resonant, where every player is contributing to something greater, and none is attempting to dominate the proceedings. Track titles like “The Many Colours of Bamboo,” “The Moment Summer Turns to Autumn” and “The Secret Life of the Forest” go far to illustrate the subtle character of Espial’s gentle endeavors, but the results are as soothing as they are interesting. These pieces won’t put the listener to sleep — there is too much going on to capture the imagination, but they will evoke a state of calmness and peace at the receiving end. Too many improvisations sound like they were enjoyable for the players, but maybe not so much for the listener. That’s definitely not the case here with The Act of Noticing — this is one you could play on repeat for hours on end and it will continue to hold your interest.

Filed under: New releases, 2024 releases

Related artist(s): Espial

More info
http://discusmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-act-of-noticing-172cd-2024

 

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