John Abercrombie & Ralph Towner • Sargasso Sea

 

Review by Michael G. Nastos
John Abercrombie and Ralph Towner have forever been tied to the ECM roster as leaders and individualists, and initially it was hard to imagine their styles being compatible. As an amplified electric guitarist, Abercrombie's steely, sometime unearthly sound was an uneven puzzle piece alongside the graphic, stoic, classically oriented style of Towner. Yet on Sargasso Sea, there are several instances where they merge together as one, feeling their way through pure improvisations, angular and colorful motifs, or thematic nuances and a certain strata of consciousness that makes a world of common sense. There are selections where they both play acoustic guitars, but it is mostly Abercrombie's hopped up sound through an amp over Towner's bold and beautiful unplugged instrument, tossing in a piano overdubbed on two tracks. Where selections such as "Fable" are folksy and far from overwrought, "Avenue" lopes gracefully and the exceptional "Parasol" is semi-lyrical. Abercrombie's guitar stands in stark contrast on the near macabre title track, and more so during "Elbow Room" with heavier moans, cries, vibrato, echoplex slide incursions, and Towner as an afterthought. The best track "Staircase," with twin acoustic guitars, sports tricky intricate lines and changes only virtuosi can achieve. In laid-back surrender for "Romantic Descension," and in passive voicings on "Over & Gone," Towner need not strain to make his brilliant voice heard clearly. An uneven recording for many listeners and critics, Sargasso Sea deserves a second chance, not as an absolutely flawed, imperfect, or unbalanced effort. Like a tale of two cities, it stands as a unique project, perhaps deserving a more refined approach. Though there was a follow-up album released, a third-time's-the-charm contemporary revisit from these masterful guitar geniuses would be welcome. 
https://www.allmusic.com/album/sargasso-sea-mw0000198776


Delightful introduction to the guitar duo of Abercrombie and Towner, whose strikingly different styles prove remarkably compatible. Towner: “With Abercrombie I can play as much as when playing solo and still get to ply my skills as accompanist.”
https://ecmrecords.com/product/sargasso-sea-john-abercrombie-ralph-towner/

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Reseña de Michael G. Nastos
John Abercrombie y Ralph Towner siempre han estado vinculados a la lista de ECM como líderes e individualistas, e inicialmente era difícil imaginar que sus estilos fueran compatibles. Como guitarrista eléctrico amplificado, el sonido acerado y en algún momento sobrenatural de Abercrombie era una pieza desigual del rompecabezas junto con el estilo gráfico, estoico y de orientación clásica de Towner. Sin embargo, en el mar de los Sargazos, hay varios casos en los que se fusionan como uno solo, abriéndose camino a través de puras improvisaciones, motivos angulosos y coloridos, o matices temáticos y ciertos estratos de conciencia que crean un mundo de sentido común. Hay selecciones en las que ambos tocan guitarras acústicas, pero en su mayoría es el sonido mejorado de Abercrombie a través de un amplificador sobre el audaz y hermoso instrumento desenchufado de Towner, lanzando un piano sobregrabado en dos pistas. Donde selecciones como "Fábula" son folclóricas y están lejos de ser exageradas, "Avenue" lopes con gracia y la excepcional "Parasol" es semi-lírica. La guitarra de Abercrombie contrasta marcadamente en la pista principal casi macabra, y más aún durante "Elbow Room" con gemidos, gritos, vibrato, incursiones en toboganes echoplex y Towner como idea de último momento. La mejor pista "Staircase", con guitarras acústicas gemelas, líneas intrincadas y complicadas y cambios que solo los virtuosos pueden lograr. En una rendición relajada para "Romantic Descension", y en voces pasivas en "Over & Gone", Towner no necesita esforzarse para que su brillante voz se escuche con claridad. Una grabación desigual para muchos oyentes y críticos, Sargasso Sea merece una segunda oportunidad, no como un esfuerzo absolutamente defectuoso, imperfecto o desequilibrado. Como una historia de dos ciudades, se erige como un proyecto único, quizás mereciendo un enfoque más refinado. Aunque se lanzó un álbum de seguimiento, sería bienvenida una tercera revisión contemporánea del encanto de estos magistrales genios de la guitarra. 
https://www.allmusic.com/album/sargasso-sea-mw0000198776


Deliciosa introducción al dúo de guitarras de Abercrombie y Towner, cuyos estilos sorprendentemente diferentes resultan notablemente compatibles. Towner: "Con Abercrombie puedo tocar tanto como cuando toco solo y aún así desarrollar mis habilidades como acompañante.”
https://ecmrecords.com/product/sargasso-sea-john-abercrombie-ralph-towner/


 

www.ecmrecords.com/john-abercrombie ...
www.ralphtowner.com ...



Tracks:
1 - Fable
 Written-By – J. Abercrombie - 8:38
2 - Avenue
 Written-By – J. Abercrombie - 5:15
3 - Sargasso Sea
 Written-By – J. Abercrombie*, R. Towner - 3:56
4 - Over And Gone
 Written-By – R. Towner - 2:48
5 - Elbow Room
 Written-By – J. Abercrombie*, R. Towner - 5:08
6 - Staircase
 Written-By – R. Towner - 6:21
7 - Romantic Descension
 Written-By – J. Abercrombie - 3:13
8 - Parasol
 Written-By – R. Towner - 5:24


Credits:
    John Abercrombie
    Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
    Ralph Towner
    12-String Guitar, Classical Guitar, Piano

Recorded May 1976
Talent Studios, Oslo

Originally released on vinyl as ECM 1080 in 1976 

 

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