David Cross-Andrew Booker: Ends Meeting

Although he’s best known for his time playing violin in King Crimson during the seventies, it was while David Cross was out on the road with his own band in the mid-noughties that he shared the bill with Peter Banks’ Harmony In Diversity and their drummer Andrew Booker. The two were struck by the others’ musical prowess and decided to record together, meeting for just the one session, which, as the rear of their album Ends Meeting details, was ‘recorded Friday evening 13 October 2006 at Downs Sounds London N11, UK; mixed upstairs in South Woodford, London E18’. In many ways that gives the impression that the pair basically got together and knocked some tunes about but with Booker planning in advance, he arrived replete with several sounds and tonal themes on his electronic drums that he felt would have a chance of catching a little of Cross’s violin magic and he describes the results as ‘something special’.

Booker really was prepared and with Cross handling electric violin throughout and the drummer sitting behind an equally powered kit, this album is an all plugged-in affair. Therefore the organic nature with which the echoing soundscapes Cross brings to the forefront of the seven tracks on show is impressive, even if the sterile foundation does often leave the impression that a keyboard/synth player was also stood in on the sessions when in fact there wasn’t. Cross provides all the melody; swoops and stabs from his violin bow always looking to offer up some hopeful despair. This is austere and heartfelt melancholy laid bare and allowed to breathe. “The Shakes Rattle� a Middle Eastern inspired call that envelopes its intention and delivers it well. “Worship The Gourds� plays to a much more bullish, if still equally stark setting, with Cross’s contributions here dancing with an evil glint that can be rather unsettling and demonic. Whereas the lengthy title track uses a slightly more melodic framework to move through a selection of moods and tones. It’s the longest and most varied offering on show and yet it still sits perfectly within its surrounds.

Although it was recorded some twelve years ago, this is the first time Ends Meeting has been released and it has to be said that there’s no hint that this was a project that sat on the shelf for over a decade. It may be a little too bare and spartan for some tastes. However, if the less song based moments from Porcupine Tree or no-man draw you in and enthral, there’s a good chance that you’ll find what Cross and Booker have created here to be a similar, if still completely different bedfellow.

Track Listing
1. LOOPSCAPE A
2. THE SHAKES RATTLED
3. SLEEK
4. SPARED BHANGRA
5. WORSHIP THE GOURDS
6. ENDS MEETING
7. LOOPSCAPE B

Added: December 23rd 2018
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Ends Meeting @ Cherry Red
Hits: 927
Language: english

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