Album Review: Sean R. Ferguson - Ténèbres

Sean R. Ferguson

Ténèbres

***and1/2 out of *****

The newest release from Brooklyn based composer, arranger, and performer Sean R Ferguson is Ténèbres on Big Round Records. The experimental audio work is based on François Couperin's Leçons de ténèbres and takes the church based choral music and moves it into a modern instrumental realm, touching both the avant-garde and the holy. 

Ferguson (guitar) worked with Isabel Castellvi (cello) and Nelson Ojeda Valdés (organ) to bring this project to life. It is no easy task for Ferguson and company to transform baroque chamber style music into these new arrangements. Things start off interesting with "Ténèbres: I. Jod (Freely, out of darkness)" as slow building guitar feedback uses easy, vibrating lines before turning gnarly mid tune. Bright organ from Nelson arrives to close the passage, and that combo of fuzz laced 'darker' guitar sounds mixed with 'light' organ is a reoccurring theme on Ténèbres 

 

Overall, the work moves from earthly tension towards heavenly release, the Lee Ranaldo like guitars of "Ténèbres: II. Recitatif (Hand against desires)" are the deep night, far from the bright sunrise tone Ferguson uses on album closer "Ténèbres: XII. Closing (Jerusalem)" which feels like a rising spiritual awakening.  

The pretty organ and dissident guitar are at odds while the cello rises and buzzes for "Ténèbres: III. Caph / IV. Recitatif (Groaning and seeking)" before "Ténèbres: V. Lamed" which is the most rock like outing, using chugging guitar, fluttering organ and cello hits. 

Album centerpiece "Ténèbres: VI. Recitatif (All you who pass by)" is the clear album highlight.  Twinkling guitar and prominent cello lines intertwine as the textured sound moves from angsty to euphoric for over six minutes with swelling, gorgeous lines. 

Less successful is "Ténèbres: IX. Nun / X. Recitatif (The yoke of my iniquities) / XI. Non surgere (From which I cannot rise)" which feels too light and airy with peppy organ. Better is the dissonant echoing guitar/fluid organ combo of "Ténèbres: VII. Mem" and "Ténèbres: VIII. Recitatif (Fire into my bones)" which combines driving cello, lighthearted organ and stabbing electric guitar lines expertly.  

An experimental work that takes inspiration from music over 300-year-old is a fun feat in and of itself. Ferguson calls Ténèbres both homage to Couperin and a modern experiment: a meditation on light and shadow to send fire deep into our bones, that sums it up well. 

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