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Originally Posted by tesla69
on today's Downtown Music Gallery update
Wit Sonic Youth currently in limbo, each member has been working on a variety of solo projects. Thurston Moore recently did a week-long residency (12/31/13 - 1/5/14) at The Stone, I attended a few different sets. Thanks to John Moloney, drummer of Sunburned Hand of Man and Chelsea Light Moving (Thurston's current band), we were able to get copies of these two duo CDs. They are not CD-Rs.
THURSTON MOORE & JOHN MOLONEY - Banjaxed Blues: Caught On Tape (Manhand 140/141; USA) Featuring Thurston Moore on guitar & John Moloney on drums. This disc features two intense thirty minute improv workouts, one in Baltimore in 2012 and the other from Belfast in 2013. Right from the gitgo, the duo are wailing, heavy noise guitar and hard rocking drums whipping up a storm. Thurston Moore is a master of that howling, feedback-drenched, bent note abandon. When the duo quiets down, Moore still creates fascinating scraped strings, drones and other suspense-filled environments. Both Moore and Moloney are members of Thurston's current band, Chelsea Light Moving, hence the duo also insert a couple of CLM (like?) songs. When dealing with different devices for the electric guitar, there are sounds that alter the guitar into an area where it is difficult to tell how certain sounds are being made. No matter what, both Mr. Moore and Mr. Moloney are strong improvisers and create strong layers of sonic storms. Two special spirited dates, both worth exploring. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG CD $10
THURSTON MOORE & JOHN MOLONEY - An American Prayer: Caught On Tape (Manhand 131; USA) Featuring Thurston Moore on guitar & voice and John Moloney on drums & voice with poems by Dennis O'Driscoll. This discs was recorded live in Brooklyn in December of 2012. This is a 29-minute 1 track piece. This disc starts with a short poem read by Mr. Moloney before the improv kicks in. This set moves from quieter moments to some intense, free and noisy duo eruptions. Mr. Moloney who used to drum for Sun Burned Hand of Man is a fine drummer who works well with Thurston. In the more than three decades since Sonic Youth entered the Downtown noise/punk/rock scene, both guitarists Mr. Moore and Lee Ranaldo, have become strong, inventive improvisers, often playing in a variety of live situations with like-minded players like William Hooker and Tom Surgal, both great drummers and inspired sparring partners. This is a fine, well-recorded set and at just under a half hour, just the right length to not overstay its welcome. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG CD $10
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