The Seven Storey Mountain

Brilliant second album from Nate Wooley's Seven Storey Mountain project. David Grubbs and Paul Lytton have been replaced by Chris Corsano (Sunburned, Björk, Six Organs) and C. Spencer Yeh (Burning Star Core). "This second recording of Seven Storey Mountain is what I hoped the series would be, a chance to try to find different ways of creating something over the same basic ideas (tape manipulation, long forms with simple written musical directions, an attempt to reach some sort of musical ecstaticism) with different musicians. The first Seven Storey Mountain featured the odd pairing of British improv legend Paul Lytton and avant-rock icon David Grubbs. This second version is played by a trio that has worked together more regularly in different constellations. Yeh works with Corsano in Paul Flaherty's trio, and with me in a trio with Tall Firs drummer Ryan Sawyer. Corsano has also worked with me in a new trio with saxophone iconoclast Evan Parker. There is a different kind of communication here, more organic and slowly moving over the tape material, which has new elements in it as well. Add to that the beautiful mastering work of Mell Detmer and I think it has turned out as a heavy, dark, and beautifully rich record." — Nate Wooley