Ruimy, Aaron/Marco Minnemann: A Few Minor Modifications

Few things cross my desk that I've literally never before imagined.

When I see the name Marco Minnemann, a certain amount of quality is guaranteed. I had never heard of Canadian multi-instrumentalist Aaron Ruimy before this. And little did I know I was about to jump into the rabbit hole!

I shouldn't review this CD without bringing you along the journey taken to create it. It all starts back in 2006 when Marco recorded a 51-minute drum solo. It was performed as musically as possible with many sections and feels, taking on a jazzy demeanor. Marco then invited many of his musician friends to take that solo and write and record music to accompany it. Over time, the likes of Mike Keneally, Trey Gunn, and others have answered the call and written music for his improvised drum solo. Taken from Aaron's CD A Few Minor Modification: "…Aaron Ruimy spent the better part of 2012 composing music to (Marco's drum solo). The timing of the original drum solo has not been changed. About ten other individuals have composed music to the same drum solo, and you (yes, you) are invited to write your own: visit www.normalizer2.com for details."

Writing music on a blank page is one skill, but composing music to accompany a 51-minute drum solo? Could this be anything other than a labor of love or a learning experience? The music is driven by synthesizers and keyboards performed by Aaron. Guitars are played on 10 of the 18 tracks by Taylor Patterson and Emilo Guym and violin is performed on 4 tracks by Eugene Draw.

Track 6 has a Mahavishnu feel thanks the fantastsic playing of Eugene.

Track 13 "Hello Amy" has some of the best music; the jazzy opening, thoughtful distorted guitar lines, hypnotic rhythm and cool synth melodies. You can just hear the math as Marco's time signatures change while Aaron navigates them.

The confluence of pure improvisation and meticulous composition is fascinating. At times I hear free jazz; other times instrumental rock or fusion. This would be optimal road-trip or other long-form listening music. There are melodies wrapped throughout the entirety yet every track runs in to the next one. I'm going to throw out a $5 cliché but the whole is truly greater than the sum of the parts.

Track Listing
1. Go Big
2. Voicemail
3. Fossil Lake Zone, Act I
4. Tbreakfast in Tbilisi
5. If You Want Something Done Right
6. Bitter Lemon
7. Professor Bosco's Trans-Dimensional Whatnot
8. Status Constructus
9. Oh Canaduhhhhh
10. Fossil Lake Zone, Act II
11. Yokozuna
12. The Last Flying Ostrich
13. Hello Amy
14. We Get Blown Onto The Tracks And Catch Fire
15. The Money We Lost
16. Stupid Tape Machine
17. Ostrichburger
18. Go Home

Added: March 6th 2014
Reviewer: Ryan Good
Score:
Related Link: Artist Website
Hits: 2377
Language: english

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