Slow, Quiet Music In Search Of Electric Happiness
Redshift, 2022
8/10
Listen to Slow, Quiet Music In Search Of Electric Happiness
A Montreal guitar ensemble, Instruments Of Happiness presents us with four compositions that are 14 minutes each, synchronized by stopwatches, and allows space for each of the guitars to explore and flow.
Louise Campbell’s “Sideways” opens the listen with much atmosphere, as the precisely plucked guitars emit a fascinating, hypnotic quality that’s shrouded in mystery and awe, and Rose Bolton’s “Nine Kinds Of Joy” follows with a low buzzing that showcases finger picked acrobatics amid a warm haze.
The back half of the listen offers the louder “Traps, taboos, tradition”, by Andrew Noseworthy, where the sonic use of the electric guitar scrapes, whispers and chimes with plenty of playful exploration. The last composition, Andrew Staniland’s “Notre-Dame is burning”, exits with an ambient romanticism that embraces atypical melody and swells of ominous moments to punctuate the eclectic environment.
An electric chamber experience that’s quite exciting and unpredictable, Tim Brady, Jonathan Barriault, Simon Duchesne and Francis Brunet-Turcotte handle their guitars with an unparalleled skill, and the sounds here radiate a rare chemistry and timeless spirit.
Travels well with: Tania Gill Quartet- Disappearing Curiosities; Noah Bierstone- Mountains Move Like Clouds