Tim Berne's Fractured Fairy Tales

by Scott YanowTim Berne's music on his CD sometimes looks a little toward Anthony Braxton's free bop lines but also incorporates some electronics, unusual instrumental textures and some just plain weird sounds. Among the miscellaneous instruments listed are Mark Dresser's giffus and bungy, Herb Robertson's Laryngeal crowbar and Joey Baron's shacktronics; obviously these performances are not devoid of humor. The "medley" of "Hong Kong Sad Song" and "More Coffee" features Robertson's passionate wa-wa trumpet over exotic rhythms and Tim Berne on a staccotoish alto solo. "Now Then" recalls the original Chico Hamilton Quintet. The first half of "The Telex Blues" is a good joke with a distorted nonsensical voice almost drowned out by feedback (as if it were a long distance call that did not quite connect) although the performance does go on too long. An episodic "SEP" and the 19-minute multi-sectioned "Evolution Of A Pearl" (which ranges from sound explorations to avant-funk) wrap up this esoteric yet listenable set.