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Rafael Toral

Space Elements Vol. II

(Staubgold; US: 1 Mar 2010; UK: Import)

Space Program, the ongoing music project from Portuguese sound sculptor Rafal Toral, is a spectacular meditation on the relationship between sound and atmosphere that gets better with each new release. The fourth title in the series proves to be Toral’s most exploratory statement to date. Space Elements Vol. II finds Toral gathering together a highly talented ensemble of underground jazz musicians, including saxophonist Evan Parker, guitarist Manuel Mota, drummer Alfonoso Simoes, vibe man Stefano Tedesco, Joao Paulo Feliciano on the Fender Rhodes and digital synth czar Ruben Costa alongside Space Program mainstays like Sei Miguel and Rute Praca, only to deconstruct their collective performance into a spontaneous sheath of digital birdsong and atonal sonic manipulation that takes even the most cerebral strain of experimental jazz to a whole new level of pure minimalist bliss.

Rating:

Ron Hart is currently enjoying his 11th year as a professional music journalist. In addition to PopMatters, he has also written for such publications as CMJ, Billboard.com, SPIN.com, The Village Voice, Gear, Paper, SHOUT NY, Paperthinwalls.com, Blender, Yellow Rat Bastard, Good Times, Paste, and Barnesandnoble.com among others. He is also the editor and publisher of the Interboro Rock Tribune, a free NYC music zine now in its 6th year in print. Please give us traffic on our website at http://www.irtmag.com.


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