Classically-trained pianist & multi-instrumentalist Dave Harrington is an ensemble of one: in addition to ivory duties, he can be heard playing guitar, flute, clarinet, and even trumpet, cello and horn on his eponymous album under the guise of Rule 29. No small feat! Many lines that are actually played on a real, nonelectric instrument evoke electronic synths. Harrington integrates elements of classical music, jazz, blues, and ambient/electronic music into a soundtracky whole. Most of these selections undulate in intensity until a plateau is reached, after which the music glides toward the opposite edge of the aural vista. The cello's drone on the first three tracks adds an unearthly quality, and "Android Dream" would be appropriate for sections of Philip K. Dick's novel—the one with Android in the title, which the Blade Runner film was based on. "Empire" and the melancholic, synth-laden "Ancient Race" are two other long pieces, tedious in spots if only stylistically. The quirk factor runs high on "Carnival Son," with jumping piano chords and an octal clarinet melody relaying a seriously Nintendo-esque vibe! This album makes for a moderately tense listen, in that quite a bit is happening, compositionally—a good run for lovers of much of what appears on the Cuneiform label.
Tracklist:
1. Awaken 3:27
2. Android Dream 10:12
3. The Thirteenth Hour 2:55
4. Empire 8:23
5. Carnival Son 5:44
6. Ancient Race 11:07
Total Time: 42:08
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