Shank: Do
Nonplace

While the cover accurately describes Do as “Live Improv Group from Berlin meets Nonplace Hard Disk,” the term 'improv' comes freighted with connotations of waywardness that don't apply here; rather, the material sounds more through-composed than unrehearsed. Shank and producer Burnt Friedman adopted a rather unique approach to creating the album. In keeping with its credo to always create music from scratch, the Berlin sextet spent a week in June 2003 recording material which Friedman then edited over a three-month period. Perhaps the impression of structural coherence is therefore attributable to Friedman who unobtrusively sculpts the material. Such humility extends to the group itself whose members seem more interested in nurturing a textured sound than personal grandstanding. That's not to suggest, however, that they don't individually impress. Drummer Matthias Trippner proves equally proficient at percolating Latin-jazz and motorik rhythms. Guitarist Michael Rodach shows an equally versatile hand with atmospheric shudders and bluesy riffing. Trumpeter Martin Klingeberg provides the most distinctive solo voice, even if his playing sometimes resembles Jon Hassel's elephantine tone a bit too much. Musical styles range widely too, encompassing swaying grooves, ambience, bluesy dub, even electronic noise. Shank's global acoustic-electronic hybrid recalls Flanger, which shouldn't surprise too much, given Friedman's partnering role (alongside Uwe Schmidt) in that group. It's all tastefully executed, perhaps even too much so as the music might have benefited from more moments of unrestrained passion.

October 2004