Virginia Genta / Chris Corsano
The Live In Lisbon


5.0
classic

Review

by YakNips USER (38 Reviews)
January 12th, 2017 | 29 replies


Release Date: 2009 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Ritualistic transcendence can be hard on the ear.

Music is one of the least hackneyed, and yet most universal things known to man. This may seem paradoxical in nature, because it is. The human condition is nothing if not pervasive, and yet every artist's presentation of this circumstance is vastly different and personal to their own life experience. I would argue that the nature of creating music, as is the nature of man, is to analyze and cultivate our own situation, and how it reflects what we see in the world. Existing can prove to be an adverse task, so naturally, the music we create and listen to should properly reflect these terms of which we were not consulted. This may sound pretentious, but this crusade of humanity is undeniable, and represented perfectly by The Live In Lisbon. Virginia Genta and Chris Corsano are two daring improvisers from Italy and New England respectively, and despite their visionary conviction to the pursuit of expressive music they remain widely unknown outside the narrow circle of free improvisation. Their playing is as spontaneous as it is challenging, as empyreal as it is human.

The Live In Lisbon is a fervent duet recorded on the roof of Galeria Zé dos Bois in Portugal, at sunset. Virginia Genta plays various saxophones, flutes, and her voice, while Chris Corsano handles all things related to percussion. Both are musicians of immense power and control, and this becomes immediately recognizable by the burst of sound and fury that emerges from the first seconds of the opener, "Some Birds are Free People." After a few exhaustive minutes of blowing and rattling, cacophonous yet utterly precise, Corsano drops out to give Genta the spotlight. The minute-long solo she plays here is tragic and excruciating, so personal that the intolerant ear might describe it as resembling the sounds of a dying horse. This bereavement comes to an end, and at the exact right moment Corsano jumps back in to the chaos of reality. Their unscripted compositions remain mesmerizing down to the last second, and explore astonishing textures, at a certain point in their first hymn it quite literally sounds like a conversation between birds. Though to some these pieces may sound like a load of trashy old noise, there is nothing trashy or banal about them. This is music hand-plucked from the heavens, and filtered through a personal hell.



Recent reviews by this author
Mary Halvorson Octet Away With YouDerek Bailey Ballads
Analgesin Seeds of NothingVolcanic Queen Moments Captured in a Different Light
The Hyacinth Act Our SympathyBoring Bathtimes Souls in a World of Dense Air
user ratings (5)
4.4
superb

Comments:Add a Comment 
YakNips
January 12th 2017


20097 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

felt like writing a review, decided to tackle one that's remained on my mind as of late

YakNips
January 12th 2017


20097 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

sure since i assume you negd

Snake.
January 12th 2017


25242 Comments


pos

YakNips
January 12th 2017


20097 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

cool



thx jake the snake

brainmelter
Contributing Reviewer
January 12th 2017


8318 Comments


pos bby pos
will check this out,

AsleepInTheBack
Staff Reviewer
January 12th 2017


10024 Comments


Neat review man, kind of wish it was a little longer and more substantial but you got your point across. Pos

AsleepInTheBack
Staff Reviewer
January 12th 2017


10024 Comments


I think that's a fair critique, though I would add that many (though not all) of the statements in the first para, whilst stated as if they were universal objective truths, are Yak's subjective opinions gained as a musician and consumer of music which I don't feel need to be evidenced. So while it could have been phrased more clearly, I feel the tone of the para reflects that sufficiently, and that the essence of the first paras message is clear enough.

I would agree that the language appears half-forced and fluttery at times, whilst conceding that this is something I struggle with too.

YakNips
January 12th 2017


20097 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

hey thanks brain and asleep, and thanks not sach for the feedback that is actually helpful.



only thing i really agree with you on there is the weak conclusion, i wanted to go back into the personal realm that i open the review with but i'll edit that in some way because the way its worded is weak tbh

BandNewbac
January 12th 2017


2462 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Needed a review, glad I shared my love for this with you

ScuroFantasma
Emeritus
January 13th 2017


11966 Comments


Enjoyed the review, pos. The criticisms in this thread are quite fair, personally I think it was well written aside from a couple out of place commas (no biggie), also I take issue with your use of conceited - nothing in that sentence seemed concieted in the slightest. But otherwise I think it was good if a bit short, I'm floating somewhere between Sach and Asleep.

YakNips
January 13th 2017


20097 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

thanks man, recently i've come to see brevity in album reviews as a blessing, and i can see what you mean about conceited, think i'll change that to pretentious

ScuroFantasma
Emeritus
January 13th 2017


11966 Comments


Good call. Also agreed on short reviews being a blessing, there's definitely a sweet spot.

Trebor.
Emeritus
January 13th 2017


59810 Comments


will read when I don't have a blinding headache

YakNips
January 14th 2017


20097 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

treb what's up with the kkk nazi david duke jr. as ur avatar??

Gleam
November 25th 2017


438 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

yeah this is incredible





can't believe this actually happened here in portugal and i actually fucking missed it

Havey
December 22nd 2017


12061 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

this is gd!

YakNips
December 22nd 2017


20097 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

thanks

Havey
December 23rd 2017


12061 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

yak

YakNips
December 23rd 2017


20097 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

yes!

Havey
December 23rd 2017


12061 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

did you quit sput to become a ubermensch



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy