Debussy’s Fawn
Self-Released, 2020
8/10
The result of 5 musicians bringing their respective talents to an instrumental setting, Music By Gestalt craft songs that are as mesmerizing and sublime as the cover art of Debussy’s Fawn, where they never follow predictable patterns.
“The Frog’s Song” starts the listen with soft keys from Tim Johnson and strings interacting in elegant ways that certainly draw from classical influences, and “Church Music” continues the sophistication with Ben Scanlan’s percussive presence that builds into a radiant burst of hypnotic melody. The title track, also the album highlight, then finds a cinematic place to reside with a pulsating quality that gets a bit more forceful as Wrenn Miller’s bass work is on full display.
The back half of the listen offers 3 parts to “Rabbit In A Snowstorm”, where violin acrobatics from Shalini Vijayan are center stage and range from soft and melancholic to erratic and wild, occasionally being complemented by skittering keys, agile percussion, and experimental prowess.
Somewhere between classical, jazz, indie and progressive sounds, Music By Gestalt bring incredible poise and even greater skill to this very unique and unforgettable affair.
Travels well with: Casey Gibson- Piano Music; Zephyr Quartet- Epilogue