Arid Landscapes
Noah Franche-Nolan; Dan Pitt
Signal Chain Records SC001 (aridlandscapes.bandcamp.com/album/arid-landscapes)
As a fan of Toronto jazz guitarist Dan Pitt’s minimalist solo album Monochrome: Songs For Travel, I was richly rewarded by his new duo’s debut album Arid Landscapes with Vancouver pianist Noah Franche-Nolan. Ten tracks of deep explorations into expressive treatments of both instruments unfurl delicate nuances of artistry; the resulting partnership is so immersive I found myself at times forgetting I was listening. It’s not clear how much of the music is written vs improvised (my hunch is a lot of both). As with many creative partnerships during the COVID era the pair began by exchanging recordings online before meeting up in person, adding electronics both live and in post-production. The resulting project is a warm and enveloping creative journal leaning at times toward textural soundscapes, blossoming into a beautifully sparkling album I could not put down.
I love the pairing of acoustic piano and guitar delays in the fantastical explorations of RTMK. Weathered could be a soundtrack for a moon-landing, feeling spontaneous yet grounded in harmonic notes and textures of the guitar’s reverse delays with acoustic piano. Summerhill‘s supremely subtle shifts in tones might be my favourite track of the album, along with the shimmering closer The Optimist.
I’m inspired by players who have so much trust in each’s skill and alignment that it shows in their patience in each other, giving time for the development and refining of each idea. This was beautifully supported by the mastering by François Houle, keeping the authenticity of the duo’s intertwining electroacoustic rhythms and acoustic explorations perfectly balanced while ensuring the buoyancy and liveliness of this new project is clean and fresh.
