Although guitarist
Scott Fields is the composer for each of the five lengthy compositions on "Beckett," the music sounds very much like episodic free improvisations. The guitar-tenor-cello-percussion quartet has an unusual sound. The use of wit in places, along with occasional melodic passages, serves as a contrast to some rather noisy sound explorations. The musicians listen closely to each other although quite often they follow completely independent paths. The final results will certainly keep listeners guessing for just when one is ready to sum it all up as a free-form screamfest, the mood shifts and the band will play a spacy ballad. Listeners who are open to rockish sounds and modern creative ideas will find this music of strong interest. ~ Scott Yanow