This is nothing if not a rather weird record. Frenchman
Noel Akchote performs six guitar duets apiece with either
Marc Ribot or
Eugene Chadbourne. Four of the songs are by
Ornette Coleman, four are Akchote originals that could have been written by Ornette. Two are collaborations, while
Chadbourne contributed "Dirt" (a spacy country-blues number with a vocal), and "Body and Soul" is eccentrically deconstructed. Some of the performances throw away the themes quickly in favor of tonal distortions and feedback. A few of the slower numbers, such as "New York" and "Chesire Hotel," are more thoughtful but no less bizarre. The two guitarists (whether it be
Ribot or
Chadbourne) constantly echo each other, often out of time and sometimes in different keys. There are dull stretches, but no performance lacks intensity and passion, along with a taste of the absurd. For selective tastes. ~ Scott Yanow