Steve MacLean Ensemble

Steve MacLeans 5-piece ensemble perform complex, composed polyrhythmic pieces interspersed with atmospheric improvisations for guitar, bass, keyboard, percussion and various objects: a journey through complex, composed polyrhythmic pieces interspersed with careful, atmospheric improvisations for guitar, bass, keyboard, percussion and various objects. There is a quiet rigour, almost a formality, about this CD that is rather unusual for the new century - the compositions are not over-elaborated and they follow the parallel metre style of his under-rated classic 'Opposite of War'. Avoiding overproduction they stay close to the human scale of their performances. And the improvised sections are obviously played, and concern themselves with structure and content rather than effect. In other words, this is an old fashioned record of distinctive compositions, high performance values and imaginative playing.