Through The Mangrove Tunnels
Panoramic, 2021
8/10
Listen to Through The Mangrove Tunnels
Known for his atypical meter groove and iconoclastic forms of orchestral and classical ideas, Scott Lee’s meticulous compositions are fleshed out by the JACK Quartet, as well as Steven Beck on piano and Russell Lacy behind the drum kit on this work that’s inspired by Lee’s Florida roots.
Lee starts the listen with the low piano of the title track, where plucked strings and bare percussion adds mystery to the atypical chamber opening, and this unpredictability follows to the loud versus soft dynamics of “The Man In The Water”, where frantic drumming and quivering strings add a very jagged and inviting element.
Halfway through, the brief “Flying Fish” offers violin acrobatics alongside bouts of swift keys and drum fills, while “Playthings Of Desire” benefits much from Beck’s piano skills in a cinematic delivery that could both soundtrack a romantic film, just as it could an action flick.
The best tune lands near the end, where “The Ballad Of Willie Cole” spends 11+ minutes mesmerizing us with furious swells of orchestral rock, though calm ebbs of picked and bowed strings are nearby, too. “Floating Away” then exits the listen on a dreamy note, though, in the middle, it bursts into tense textures that add a muscular dimension to the fascinating finish.
A listen that’s capable of being both dark yet ethereal, Lee’s unconventional approach to harmonies and bold approach to songwriting might be quite complicated, but it’s also easily accessible to those willing to embark on the journey.
Travels well with: Catalyst Quartet- Uncovered Vol 1; The Crossing- Tower And The Garden