Frank Rosaly is a busy man. A free jazz drummer and composer, he is reported to be working on upwards of 20 projects in and around Chicago.
He brings this restless energy to bear on a surprisingly varied solo album which follows his personal philosophy that "motion is the primary element to the creation of sound".
Doubtless conscious that few would relish the idea of hearing a 45 minute selection of drum solos he puts the emphasis of variety, drawing upon Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and Western sources and making creative use of contact microphones, oscillators, effects pedals and analog synthesizers. There is a strong emphasis on improvisation in his exploration of acoustic and electronically generated percussion.
The album opens with the vibrant Adolescents which is the aural equivalent of a lively crowd on the march and a mood that alternates between celebration, calm and threat. Another fine track is Truce where the layering of improvised flourishes over a foundation of simple rhythms gives a real sense of dynamic momentum.
At the heart of the record are two tracks called 'NY Prices'. One comes with an exclamation mark, the other without. The one without lasts just under 3 minutes and sounds like a much longer piece paired down to basics. The other is a far more ambitious 12 minute piece where the 'motion' is anything but slick. Being laden with heavy drones and unattractive atonal synth squiggles it moves with all the agility of a juggernaut. After this, the more minimalist textures of Calcetines and Burnshine come as a relief.
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As a demonstration of technique and range, Milkwork is highly impressive and will ensure Rosaly's services remain much in demand. It is an uncompromising piece of work that will certainly appeal to those with a passion for percussion.
On the other hand, the absence of a coherent theme or consistent style makes it a more challenging listen for the general punter. Personally, it's not a record I'd choose to play from start to finish but as a dipper it works just fine.
Milkwork is released in a limited edition vinyl version as a split release between Rosaly's own Molk Records, and Chicago-based Contraphonic, Inc.
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