KATA PHYSIN (WITH MICHAEL ZERANG)

In 2011 Spires That In the Sunset Rise, which has become two member band, collaborated with Chicago-born composer, improviser and percussion artist Michael Zerang. They had series of conserts and also got into artist residence program. Part of that they could make a massive amount of performings and recordings at the Experimental Sound Studio in Chicago. This album has recorded there in the 2nd of April 2011. Some reason it was not until 2016 small label No Index recordings released these as cassette. In my review of 'Ancient Patience Wills It Again Part 2' I was saying wrongly Zerang and Spires collaborated first time, but I believe that one piece in that album is also recorded year earlier in these same sessions.

The greatest music in this four piece album is at the first and last. 'I' is very calm with harmonium in the top of it, also there can be heard some spike violin, cello, odd percussion sounds & melodic vocals from Kathleen & Taralie. Next two tracks are quite chaotic. 'II' has percussions and flute on the top and also primitive vocals from the ladies. 'III' is the worst track I have heard from the Spires. Strings are on the top of it, but they just make awful noise. Only interesting part in it's over 12 minutes duration is Taralies's vocals through some tremolo effect in the beginning. But over 24 minutes lenght of 'IV' is full of greatness. First there are string instruments creating a feeling as you were alone in the desert. Then comes percussions with Kathleen's vocals and it's sounding like some primitive ritual. But in the end music changes very melodic with electric guitar, harmonium and beautiful vocals. Really a great epic!

There is some contemporary classical music that I like, but also some I don't understand. 'III' in this album is the latter one. It's very rare any artist made masterpieces making music in improvisations. Of course bands like Sonic Youth & Grateful Dead have been very good in that. But in this album Spires and Zerang didn't manage create whole album of great music. Sure 'IV' is five stars piece, but when 'III' is 1-2 stars piece, this album will be three. Really don't recommend to listen this album at first from this amazing band!