Pedro Melo Alves: Conundrum Vol.1 - itself through disappearance

  Portuguese percussionist Pedro Melo Alves had an idea in 2019 that was at once simple and radical. The simple part was to arrange an performance series that convened on a regular basis. But each show in this adventure would feature Alves playing duos, as he writes, “with musicians I admire (and with whom I’ve never played before).” That’s a genuinely radical idea, and Alves cemented his enthusiasm for the unknown by recording all the shows and videotaping the events since 2022. His new CD is called Conundrum Vol.1 - itself through disappearance, with a baker’s dozen of duets with all kinds of folks. Four tracks team Alves with vocalists utilizing a broad range of vocal styles: Audrey Chen (screamy), Sara Serpa (playful, in what sounds like an invented language), Gil Dionísio (shouts. murmurs, and processed vocal), and Ece Canli (ethereal). The instrumentalists are similarly varied, with such sound sources as turntables and sampler (Ignaz Shick), MIDI accordion (João Barradas), electric guitar (Nuno Rebelo), harp (Jacqueline Kerrod), cello (Violeta Garcia), electronic and acoustic feedback, modified amplifier, and electrode oscillator (Rafael Toral), and healthy doses of electronics. Over the course of 13 untitled tracks, I find myself partial to the high-energy instrumental tracks, like the tough grooves of Alves and Shick, the savage electronics of Toral, and the introspective duet with pianist Marta Warelis, but the truth is that there’s something here for anyone even faintly interested in the excitement and unpredictability of free improvisation. The album’s title arises from the post hoc decision to made a CD compilation, “because the whole series wasn’t thought of with an album flow in mind.” Alves has done a yeoman’s job in listening back to all the shows, picking tracks, and coming up with an extraordinarily cohesive set of performances. The result is like the soundtrack to the wildest dream you’ve ever had, full of unusual sounds, strange characters, and an array of quick changes in attitudes and feelings. And it’s perfect on headphones! 

Clean Feed; Pedro Melo Alves (d, perc, elec) with 1. João Barradas (accor, MIDI accor)[5/14/22]/ 2. Audrey Chen (vcl, elec) [11/11/22]/ 3. Ignaz Schick (turntables, sampler, elec) [9/29/22]/ 4. Nuno Rebelo (elec g) [2/22/19]/ 5. Marta Warelis (p) [12/20/23]/ 6. Violeta Garcia (clo, elec) [4/12/23]/ 7. Jacqueline Kerrod (harp) [2/11/09] 8. Carlos Barreto (b) [5/13/22]/ 9. Sara Serpa (vcl) [7/9/22]/ 10. Rafael Toral (electronic and acoustic feedback, modified amplifier, electrode oscillator) [3/4/22]/ 11. Grilo (prep p) [2/12/19]/12. Gil Dionísio (vcl, elec) [10/19/23]/ 13. Ece Canli (vcl, elec) [2/9/23]; 74:03. Recorded in Lisbon, Portugal, exc. 4,7,9,& 11, Coimbra, Portugal and 4, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. cleanfeed-records.com