errunriv

A quiet purposefulness pervades this quartet's thoughtful compositions and playing. "Second Hand" features repetitive phrases by Peter Lutek's clarinet, percussionist Jake Oelrichs' orchestra bells and leader/composer Tom Richards' keyboards, unfolding with restrained directness. "Horizon" has Lutek's clarinet-worrying interval groupings, until a dramatic denouement cedes to a quiet bass/drums dialogue and, finally, filtered electric piano quietude. Flavours of Klezmer music spice "The Same Tree," with wailing, bent notes infusing the tune with a liveliness that gradually changes to a noble theme that saddens then vanishes. "Josh Smith Karate-Chops His Way to Freedom Again" comes across as a tango, with Oelrichs' throbbing drums' masterful dynamic control, especially at whisper-soft volume. Enter a bizarre video arcade blast of squiggly synth noises, and the tango theme returns, to end with an eerie, reverbed hush. What characterizes all nine tracks is this quartet's unabashed musicality. Intriguing and highly listenable, errunriv is definitely worth checking out.