ABYSS MIRRORS: “Echoisms”
06/07/2021
(Clean Feed Records) 2023
Luis Lopes – elect guitar
Flak – elect guitar
Jari Marjamaki – eletronics
Travassos – eletronics
Felipe Zenícola – elétric bass
Yedo Gibson – tenor, alto & soprano
Bruno Parrinha – alto & soprano
Helena Espvall – cello
Maria da Rocha – violin
Ernesto Rodrigues – viola
(cover Art and Design by Madalena Matoso)
Recorded May 26th & 27th 2022 by Joaquim Monte at Namouche studios, Lisbon.
Mixed by Luis Lopes and Flak, December 2022
Mastered by David Zuchowski, January 9th 2023
Produced by Luis Lopes
Executive production Trem Azul
Cover Art and Design by Madalena Matoso
From the music recorded in two days at Namouche Studios Lisbon, and reaching the public through this cd, comes a constantly changing sound and atmospheric passages, managed with the tense restraint of someone who listens and understands their place within a great formation and moments of collective ecstasy with no final destination.
Movements of elusive harmony that revolve around themselves in line with the haunting lyrics of ‘He Loved Him Madly’ by Miles, along with a whirlwind of strings that brings that liberation of Alan Silva’s ensembles, electronic phrases as meta-rhythmic as landscapes and more detours and certain continuities, in an abysmal game of mirrors. The name is well placed!
The troop, the Abyss Mirrors, invoked by guitar player Luís Lopes, as described in his own words draws from inspirational foundations and a search for continuity to music that is born from the ensembles of Sun Ra and advances through the electric periods of Miles Davis and Ornette Coleman, to continue with Wadada Leo Smith, and pinching from electroacoustic giants like Stockhausen or Gabriel Prokofiev.
A Herculean task but full of intention, built by an ensemble made up of a dozen figures, 4 nationalities: Portuguese, Swedish, Finnish, and Brazilian, all currently based in Lisbon, coming from areas as disparate as intersectional: obviously from jazz but also free improvisation and experimental styles, from electronic to underground techno, contemporary or rock, with a good balance between electric and acoustic. All people recognized and recognizable in a collusion of more or less usual cronies from Lopes various wanderings.
