Originality is a rare commodity. That Ben Monder sounds original on electric guitar and fully retains the listener's interest for a full hour of recording is in itself an accomplishment. For his debut album, this very talented improviser and composer performs three solo pieces and seven others with his trio. And what a trio it is! Somehow, they manage to successfully immerse themselves in complex abstraction without sacrificing accessibility. Monster drummer Jim Black is never at a loss for ideas, which flow endlessly from his sticks. Bassist Drew Gress is a popular leader and sideman in his own right and his focused, driving, yet eclectic playing is evident throughout. Monder's rock influences persevere, though his solo pieces display a unique, often astonishing technique that transcends style. His pristine tone, combined with sophisticated ideas, makes him a musician to watch. - Steve Loewy
Each loosely bound composition with its staccato effects as performed by Ben Monder’s trio of guitar, bass and drums is an excursion toward darker realms of spirit and kaleidoscope. Within the cohesive, well-executed performances, however, an emotional singularity, taut and melancholic, prevails. Flux is thematically elastic, a centerpiece for structure and controlled development. Music of this sort impresses the listener for seeming to proceed inwardly “Muvseevum” and “O.K. Charlie” build in expressionist fashion, but “Food for the Moon” often shifts attention and mood upon nudging an extroverted corner. Jim Black’s percussion solo opens the multifaceted sonorities of “Jello Throne.” The freefalling “Don’t Look Down” and “Lactophobia” with its breakneck pace take us into wow and feedback pyrotechnics. “Propane Dream” is one of three solo performances, this time a ballad; “Orbits” showcases Monder’s facility with bass lines and counter-melodies. There’s good music on Flux, one at a time. - Ron Welburn
Tracks
01. Muvseevum
02. Flux
03. Food for the Moon
04. Red Shifts
05. Jello Throne
06. Don't Look Down
07. Orbits
08. O.K. Chorale
09. Lactophobia
10. Propane Dream
BEN MONDER guitar
JIM BLACK drums
DREW GRESS bass, bass guitar
All music composed by Ben Monder
Recorded January 29, 1995 and June 6, 1995 at Roeder Studio, Monkton, MD and Sear Sound Studios New York, NY
Songlines Recordings SGL 1509-2
https://songlines.com/