Christine Abdelnour & Andy Moor

Exposed improvisation this duet by French-Lebanese alto saxophonist Christine Abdelnour and UK-Dutch guitarist Andy Moor aims to sonically reproduce an altered state of consciousness experienced during unprotected sleep that leads to deep dreaming memories. While the intent may seem figurative, there’s no denying that the two are knowable in creating sequences of intermittent affiliations built from clenched metallic string clangs and thin reed mewls, hisses and drones.

Abdelnour, who has recorded with Magda Mayas, and Moor of the Ex, also know how to alter speed and constancy, and they do so in sequences that require concentrated flutter tonguing and power-chorded string thumps to accentuate cohesion. As demonstrated on tracks such as “Building On Top Of Ourselves” and “Flutter Bucket” mandolin-suggest twangs and mewling lip-buzzes can reshape the expositions. On the first, in fact, detours into amplified rhythms doesn’t prevent tongue stopping burbles and intervallic clangs to evolve in perfect tandem. As the two evolve their configuration in diverse tempos, the stuff that dreams are made of appears to cleave closest to unrelenting, often bass-string emphasized flanges and near-vocalized and onomatopoeic sibilant saxophone yowls and yelps. “80db Is Loud If You’re Snoring” is the most characteristic track. Torqued to a near relentless buzz by midpoint, the narrative is defined by detailed and almost palpable slurred, percussive fingering and a raucous shaking reed drone.

No prescription for sleep apnea cures or pleasant dreams, Unprotected Sleep depicts the creativity that results musically from what others may characterize as nightmares.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Defending The Question Marks 2. Unprotected Sleep 3. 80db Is Loud If You’re Snoring 4. Telephone 5. Compartment 5 6. Exchanging Oversized Chrome Objects 7. Building On Top Of Ourselves 8. Flutter Bucket 9. Cool, Cruel and Everything In Between

Personnel: Christine Abdelnour (alto saxophone) and Andy Moor (guitar)