Album Review: Bonner Kramer & Thurston Moore - They Came Like Swallows - Seven Requiems for the Children of Gaza

Bonner Kramer & Thurston Moore

They Came Like Swallows - Seven Requiems for the Children of Gaza

*** out of *****

The experimental duo's first release, They Came Like Swallows -Seven Requiems for the Children of Gaza, finds Bonner Kramer & Thurston Moore dealing with dark/light around twinkling electronics and heavier undercurrents of disaster.   

The opening effort takes sparkling sounds and has them float above Kramer's organ work and driving beat as "Um Burial" tries to stay positive on top of the chaos below. The tension is increased to palpable levels to start "The Redness In The West" as the title recalls Cormac McCarthy's classic Blood Meridian, while the sounds begin to exhale and float into outer space only to find rising tension with strings there as well.   

A drum machine sets the beat for "The Third Migration", shaking and staying steady while layers of strings and sounds are plucked, scratched, banged and pushed on top of the mechanical time keeper before a piano forward finale. The title track is the most reminiscent of Moore's work with his original band, Sonic Youth, as the rising sounds are tight and driving, giving way to a mind expanding blast of psychedelic before returning to form, an album highlight.   

Two longer, free form adventures, "The Living Theater" and "The Oceans Are Crying" continue the duo's mixing of feelings. "The Living Theater" is easy flowing with bright chimes and glistening textures while "The Oceans Are Crying" goes in the opposite direction, with feedback buzzing and an uneasy sense of calamity flowing throughout. 

The album ends with the duo's take on Joy Division's "Insight", a theatrical offering that slowly rolls out with breathy vocals, excellent bass work and shimmering guitar playing. While the cover tune shifts the style of the preceding songs more flowing experimental phasing, it still manages to convey the duos vision wonderfully.  

The long time friends and veterans of the 1970's NYC downtown experimental music scene  reconnected in Miami, Florida and recorded this album, diving into their collective wheelhouse of free form music. They Came Like Swallows - Seven Requiems for the Children of Gaza is designed to open minds, help the spirit, and uplift the soul, acting as a benefit album, with a portion of proceeds of this release benefiting World Central Kitchen.

______________

Support the artists cause, buy the album and peep some video below: