Portland-based trio
ALTO! construct lengthy instrumental pieces focused on polyrhythms. They utilize loops and other electronic elements as well as guitars, but most of these sounds end up functioning as percussive instruments. The group's usage of distortion sometimes recalls the amplified scrap metal percussion of Congolese ensemble
Konono No. 1, but
ALTO! seem to play at more relaxed tempos. Opening cut "Piece Fourteen (LPPZ)" features a rhythm reminiscent of D.C. go-go, but with clanging, metallic no wave guitar that could easily be mistaken for a sort of drum, and whistle blasts straight out of a marching band. The second half relaxes the rhythm a bit and adds eerie flutes and squirming synth. The remaining two tracks on the album are both over 15 minutes each and go through distinct passages. "Piece Twelve" starts with a lonely spaghetti Western guitar riff before plunging into a slow, crushing desert rock groove. After an ecstatic crescendo, it builds back up from silence with bongos and shakers, swirling and grinding harder than before. The album's second side is a bit more hypnotic, with another steadily galloping rhythm and exotic guitar melody, but this one develops more discordant, swarming noise than the album's first half. It almost sounds like there are voices crawling out of the messy waves of static, but it's hard to be sure. The trio seems to get into an entranced state, but doesn't get nearly as heavy or enraptured as on the majestic "Piece Twelve."
ALTO! certainly take their time, but the journey is more important than the destination anyway. ~ Paul Simpson