New Robert Ashley Record, “Tap Dancing in the Sand”
Interesting new Robert Ashley record on the Unsounds label. It's dated 2007 and earlier on the release, but it has just made its way out recently. This release is interesting because it is an ensemble record with recordings of pieces like "She Was A Visitor" recontextualized in this setting as well as new pieces. The overall feel is at once not as odd as other Ashley recordings. One of the great benefits of 20th and 21st century music is that often the definitive recordings come direct from the composer's hands so to speak, and with Ashley a great part of the interest is to be in his recording choices. This recording, having been a commission, definitely reflects that more distant relationship, the sound environment is more academic and studied (like most any other ensemble recording you pick up) and while it has its share of strange avant flourishes, they definitely sound more like they come from the ensemble's bag of tricks than from the creator or his like-minded peers. Still, all nitpicking aside, this is a thoroughly enjoyable recording, and a commendable step in trying to capture and understand the difficult-to-pin-down music of Robert Ashley.
