Grdina / Lillinger
Duo Work
Attaboygirl Records
Canadian guitarist and oud master Gordon Grdina is showing two sides of his talents this February. On his recently released Gordon Grdina’s The Marrow with Fathieh Honari, he showcased his mastery of the oud and Persian musical idioms. Where that record is quiet and meditative, Duo Work is expansive, experimental, and rather noisy. Gordon pairs off with Christian Lillinger on a set that pushes the listener beyond the reach of gravity.
“Song One” opens the set with the guitarist and drummer sparring with each other. It sounds like they are improvising, reacting to each other in real time like a game of one-upsmanship. Oh, you like that? Try this one, then. “Dissolution” follows, with Lillinger’s percussion taking melodic lead over Grdina’s ominous sustained guitar chords. It all leads to a midi-guitar breakdown at the end. Elsewhere, the duo channel King Crimson and an out-of-control, rebellious sampler.
