Grain Live, by Kasper Agnas

Grain Live

by Kasper Agnas

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1.	1992 10:36	buy track
2.	Mirrored Memories 08:12	buy track
3.	Far away, Closer 18:38	buy track

about

It’s unfortunately rare for an improviser, especially in a
solo context, to concentrate on one idea, a single angle of
attack, and to work that idea deeply, to discover hidden
jewels within a relatively “narrow” range and further, to
surprise the listener with unexpected divergencies. Agnas, in
the three selections from a live event presented here, does
this beautifully. On ‘1992’, he places his guitar on his lap
and approaches it as a kind of dulcimer, generating a strong
and captivating rhythmic attack. Just as you think you have it
figured out, he shifts pitches into a more microtonal area,
opening hitherto unsuspected doorways. ‘Mirrored Memories’
moves to a very different sound world, Agnas gently striking
the neck of his guitar with a soft mallet, creating floating,
organ-like tones. But again, about two-thirds of the way
through, he changes direction, roughly hitting the strings
with the mallet stick, resulting in a harsher, more bracing
environment scarcely hinted at in the previous sounds.
Agnas begins ‘Far Away, Closer’ with jangly chords suspended
in time, perhaps recalling aspects of John Fahey or Loren
Connors, very thoughtfully phrased and positioned, each set of
two or three allowed to linger for consideration. About
halfway through, however, things morph into a less solid, more
warped space; one feels the ground shifting beneath one’s
feet. Later still, CD-skipping effects join the fray,
rendering any smug, presumed understanding of the situation on
the part of the innocent listener absurd. In Agnas’ hands, the
electric guitar continues to reveal undreamt of possibilities.

– Brian Olewnick, Kinderhook, New York, September 2022.

credits

released February 17, 2023

All music composed and performed by Kasper Agnas (stim/ncb).
Recorded at Fylkingen, Stockholm, on March 18, 2021, by Mats Äleklint. Mixed and mastered by Giuseppe Ielasi. Produced by FRIM. Made with support from the Swedish Arts Council.

license

about

FRIM Records Stockholm, Sweden

FRIM (The Association for Free Improvised Music) was founded in 1976 to create a platform for free improvised music in Sweden and to promote the ongoing discussion about improvised music as an artform. These days FRIM arranges concerts and festivals of improvised music in Stockholm. Since 2017, FRIM is running a monthly concert series at Fylkingen, and since 2021, a record label: FRIM Records. ... more