Kjell Bjørgeengen/Keith Rowe/John Tilbury

Measuring the differences between sound and silence Flicker, Scratch and Ivory literally describes the sounds of this lower-case improvisation. Flicker references the (obviously) unseen video Norwegian Kjell Bjørgeengen projected during this live meeting with two members of UK free improv group AMM, pianist John Tilbury (Ivory) and guitarist Keith Rowe (Scratch).

Bjørgeengen’s flicker videos have been part of other live performances with the likes of Thomas Lehn and Chris Cogburn. But here it’s his and Rowe’s audible electronic crackles and hisses that are added at junctures. By default then it’s the transformations effected by Tilbury’s broken-chord interludes which are most upfront. While an occasional amp buzz or string click expands the sound palate, it’s the delayed intensity projected by carefully positioned rolls across the piano’s keys and strings which confirm timbral evolution. Sometimes pivoting to bucolic ripples, outer wood raps or pedal pressure, complete chords or patterns are heard sparingly. That’s why the distinctive sound at midpoint of ivory key claps makes such an impression.

Still it’s only when slow-moving repeated pianism is stacked up against restricted voltage drones and hollow body guitar abrasions that the realization that singular tones have been reconstructed into intermittent sequences of two-handed keyboard lyricism alternating with wave form cackles and table top guitar string scratches. Stopped piano key  and guitar string reverberations fade to distant pops, thumps and finally silence, with a single undefined metallic clunk confirming human presence.

Lacking the visual element, Flicker, Scratch and Ivory appears to be more of a soundtrack souvenir than a full-fledged proposition. Those mesmerized by every instance of minimalism may be attracted though.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Flicker, Scratch and Ivory

Personnel: John Tilbury (piano); Keith Rowe (guitar and electronics) and Kjell Bjørgeengen (video and electronics)