The notion such and such has a signature sound is regularly trotted out. I tear my hair out. Just as often as not the declaiming is untrue. However, Mary Halvorson palpably has a signature sound. There – the tendency is infectious and the marlbank bonce is suddenly all minimalist. Hat's that. Narrowing in: the way that the guitarist wrestles with a kind of playful detunery delivered in spiky mischief folding in a bluesy ache for good measure is part of her appeal. Thumbscrew drummer Tomas Fujiwara is terrifically engaged but never showy on 'Sequel to Sadness' especially. Yet if you really want to experience how Halvorson develops an idea navigate to the beginning of the title track. On 'Through an Open Window' the microtones she rustles up cause a riot. A gem of a release, bassist Michael Formanek deftly setting the scene on 'Camp Easy'. Thumbscrew know how to filter out the stuff you don't want ever to hear and cut to the chase.
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