Unsnared Drum
New Focus, 2021
8/10
It isn’t very often you’re going to hear a solo snare drum record, but Michael Compitello joined forces with 4 composers for this unusual but exciting effort that truly illustrates the versatile potential of the instrument, where dramatic moments meet sophistication amid much intrigue.
“Heart.throb”, by Nina C. Young, starts the listen with tumbling drums that makes great use of space and tension as the rim of the drum and is used percussively and combined with a transducer attached to the head of the drum, essentially making it a speaker.
Hannah Lash’s “Start” follows with a very crisp and dynamic delivery, where hands, brushes, and chopsticks help cultivate the precise flow, while “Ghost In The Machine” presents a soulful and adventurous 9+ minutes of fascinating snare drum prowess in the Amy Beth Kirsten tune.
“Negative Magic” exits the listen and eases the drums tuning to elicit a rhythmic, harmonic and melodic appeal that’s detectable to only the most ardent listener and, that, near the end, ushers in waves of sonic, drumming acrobatics.
Compitello has already worked with Robert Honstein, Thomas Kotcheff and many others, and this venture furthers his resume of iconoclastic and articulate leaps into the possibilities of percussive instruments in a way that few others could replicate.
Travels well with: David Tanenbaum- As She Sings; Van Stiefel- Spirits