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I Heart Lung

Improvisation captures the here and the now. Jazz producers like Bob Thiele at the legendary Impulse Records encouraged John Coltrane and others to record in one take, preserving the excitement generated in the moment. Working in this fashion, I Heart Lung (comprised of guitarist Chris Schlarb and drummer Tom Steck) went into the studio and recorded two days full of improvisations that, over the course of three years time, would be revised in the anti-jazz tradition of overdubs, remixing and post-production composition.

On Interoceans, I Heart Lung blends first-take methods with Oblique Strategies: carefully composed, meticulously recorded pieces rooted in improvisation, revised and augmented over time. The results are a compelling vision of chaos and beauty as Chris Schlarb's electric guitar drones and Tom Steck's free-jazz drumming hold and flutter with shimmering acoustic guitars, soaring pedal steel and beautifully captured field recordings. When Kris Tiner's trumpet follows Nels Cline's electric sitar three minutes into "Interoceans II," it's like Don Cherry's loving spirit doting on universal music drones.

Presented as a set of four long-form drone-based compositions, Interoceans hints both at the sonic palette and renegade spirit of ECM Records alumnus Steve Tibbetts and Ralph Towner and the measured studio edge of Talk Talk's Laughing Stock. While influenced by Fripp & Eno, Miles Davis, and Terry Riley, I Heart Lung possesses a healthy balance between tradition and the respectful corruption thereof. This can, in part, be seen by I Heart Lung's active involvement in the L.A. art noise scene. In 2006 the group was featured in the documentary 40 BANDS/80 MINUTES! alongside HEALTH, No Age and Abe Vigoda and they continue to pursue a tangential connection with L.A. underground hip-hop, many participants of which are mutual fans of the group. Interoceans remixes are currently in the works by several prominent hip-hop artists including Jel (Subtle, Themselves), Awol One, Serengeti, Omid (Freestyle Fellowship) and Radioinactive. A second set of electronic/ambient remixers include Strategy, Greg Davis and Danish artists Badun and Sugarghost. In addition to CD and digital formats, Interoceans also sees a limited vinyl release on the outer-limits label, Thor's Rubber Hammer Productions. It features alternate artwork by I Heart Lung drummer and visual artist Tom Steck, beautifully screenprinted on heavy Raw Kraft stock by VGKids.

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373
Album Review

I Heart Lung: Interoceans

Read "Interoceans" reviewed by Ian Patterson


In the universe of I Heart Lung, minimalism conveys great power and beauty and dissonance are two sides of the same coin. The heart and lungs of this collective are Chris Schlarb and Tom Steck; the former's guitar and electronic drones and the latter's talking drums combine to create soundscapes as delicate as summer rain or as tempestuous as a raging sea. Following on the heels of the excellent Between Them a Forest Grew Trackless and Quiet (SAA, 2007), Interoceans ...

199
Album Review

I Heart Lung: Between Them a Forest Grew, Trackless and Quiet

Read "Between Them a Forest Grew, Trackless and Quiet" reviewed by Ian Patterson


Between Them a Forest Grew, Trackless and Quiet is a title which might not seem out of place in a collection of metaphysical poetry, although whilst such poetry appeals largely to the intellect, the music of I Heart Lung appeals to the emotions.

Nevertheless, the metaphysical poets and guitarist Chris Schlarb and drummer Tom Steck do share some common ground; the former challenged the conventional imagery of the 17th century lyric and experimented with rhythm whilst the latter ...

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180

Recording

Talibam, I Heart Lung, Jeremiah Cymerman on Ecstatic Jazz Duos 12" Series

Talibam, I Heart Lung, Jeremiah Cymerman on Ecstatic Jazz Duos 12" Series

Source: All About Jazz

The Ecstatic Jazz Duos 12" Series collects six of the most innovative duos in the avant-jazz/free-noise realm. Each duo contributes a side of vinyl over three LPs (each in an edition of 500) to be released over 2008. The subscription (limited to just 100) includes all three 12"s plus stickers, buttons, and a CDr of exclusive content only available to subscribers. Pre-orders available now.

LP1: Talibam! (NYC synth/drums a la Sun Ra) Wasteland Jazz Unit (Borbetomagus-size reed-distortion)

LP2: ...

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Interoceans

Asthmatic Kitty Records
2008

buy

Between Them a Forest...

Sounds Are Active
2007

buy

Blood & Light

icdisc.nl
2005

buy

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Chris Schlarb
composer / conductor

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