Thread of Connection – Improvisations (Album Review)

This thought-provoking collaborative project between a variety of accomplished musicians from in and around San Francisco is a true treat for the senses, while enthrallingly succeeding in combining a mixture of genres with a spellbinding emotional depth.

Utilising a total of 6 performers from multiple disciplines and prosperous careers: Tosin Aribisala on drums, Daniel Berkman on the hand Sonic and Ondomo, Neil Sachs on bass, Adam Silverman on guitar, Allison Jeanne Faust on vocals and Nick Gerlock on keyboards and vocals, the album is lent a meticulous sense of professionalism through all of its artistic flairs.

As its name suggests, ‘Improvisations’ is a result of some truly inspired jamming sessions at Rose Street Studios, California, during which Thread of Connection manage to tap into some genuinely wonderful ambiances.

Comprised of 6 tracks in total, the album is kicked off with the meditative and jazzy instrumental ‘Conversant’, which stands at almost 9 minutes in duration. Beginning with an eerily glitchy electronic intro courtesy of Berkman, this is soon accompanied and in turn layered by a tentative drum beat, smooth guitar strums, and a soothing bass background. There is magic in even the most simple additions here; Sachs’ dreamy bass line conjuring up a serenely beautiful ambiance, particularly when paired with Gerlock’s delicate keyboard flourishes.

Most notably in this song is Berkman’s incredible use of the versatile Hand Sonic to add a strikingly exotic feel to an overall laidback and daintily-sounding track. It is minor but intriguing aspects such as this that begin to characterise ‘Improvisations’ as an album not just of musical technicality, but also of feeling, manipulating the senses, and above all highlighting the individual identities that these artists combine into this project.

The 2nd track, ‘An Embarrassment of Riches’, awakens with a sweet keyboard melody that swells like a morning sunrise and basks this track in a delightfully warm glow. Again there is splendour in the initial minimalism of this track, which ebbs and flows like a calm breeze, especially with the addition of Faust’s vocals, which are a thing of beauty in and of itself. The singer’s dulcet tone echoes dreamily over the top of Silverman’s leisurely guitar embellishments and helps to create an otherworldly charm that gently diffuses enchantingly throughout the song.

There’s a definite jazzy appeal to ‘Get To Sleep’, which manifests in the pronouncement of Aribisala’s drumming alongside a distant keyboard melody and Faust’s theatrical trills. While subtle, Sachs’ groovy bass line and Silverman’s catchy guitar fills completely transform this track from an easy-listening staple to a stimulating multi-layered journey through sound that is sure to both entrance and affect listeners with its complex rhythms and memorably upbeat energy.

4th track ‘In the Midst’ is the ultimate anthem of chill and unwind. There is simply nothing about this track to dislike, the languidly slow tempo, the resounding resonance of the guitar, Flaut’s effortless yet somehow haunting scatting, the uplifting keyboard harmonies; it’s all completely inviting. The way in which all artists are able to enter into an improvised space where every instrument can complement the others, while also invoking an alluring ambiance throughout the album really highlights the talents and imaginations of these artists.

‘Mega’ is instantly more playful in tone; Berkman’s nifty touch on the electronic instruments bringing a uniquely spirited tone and personality to this unassuming yet soulful track. The reverb on the electric guitar also contributes so much to ‘Mega’s starting simplicity and the idyllic ambiance that Thread of Connection are able to invoke with a skillful ease that is intensely refreshing. The song quickly gains a new energy though, with a frantically epic keyboard solo from Gerlock that thrillingly drives home the group’s jazz influences.

Closing track ‘This Way Home’ is the ideal way to end an album filled with bright colours, sensory stimulations, and cooly mellow vibes that envelope listeners like a cloud. The sleepy sense of calm this track achieves is simply divine; all artists coming together to craft an ambiance of purity and harmony that audiences will be tempted to drown themselves and any sorrows in after a long, eventful day.

Score/Excellent: The dreaminess of ‘Improvisations’ will never be able to be replicated because each of the artists here has provided such a personal touch to this album. It seems incredible that this is all a product of spontaneity; a factor that is sure to generate both awe and respect from listeners across the board. This is true art.

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