Sparhawk,Jesse / Carbonara,Eric Tributes & Diatribes CD

2014 release, the second set of tracks from the entirely unusual duo of Jesse Sparhawk (38-string lever harp) and Eric Carbonara (22-string upright Chaturangui guitar, banjo, nylon string guitar). The four tracks here are restrained and unhurried, letting the elegant string flow breathe and build over each cut. Like on their debut SIXTY STRINGS, there's plenty of virtuosity, but it's not showy and crass. These guys are more mood-builders (deep, cosmic, meditative) than doodlers. Even though TRIBUTES & DIATRIBES is immediately graspable by those of US who like our kind of music, it really doesn't sound like anyone else - a rare achievement. Along with the main dialogue between the two players, the arrangements are filled out with percussion by Peterson Goodwyn, giving some of the tracks an overt groove that cuts against the spiraling string notes. Beautiful.

1. Alemu 2. Yellow Bird 3. Twilight Lamento 4. Hitch and Herrmann