Share The Wealth
Share The Wealth has little interest in tidy boundaries. Nels Cline gathers his Singers as a six-piece ensemble that mixes funk, jazz, electronics and forceful guitar outbursts. The sound can turn from clear to unsettled without the musicians losing contact. It is a busy record, but often a surprisingly focused one.
The added saxophone, keyboards and percussion give the group considerable colour. Guitar, bass and drums do not form a fixed block for the others simply to play over. Instruments can exchange roles and send one another in a new direction. That collective search makes the music livelier than a series of long solos above unchanged backing.
Beam/Spiral begins spaciously and steadily gains force. Guitar and saxophone increase the tension while rhythm holds the piece together. Princess Phone chooses a more direct, dark funk sound, with electric piano and sharp guitar. It is heavy without losing its mobility.
On Stump The Panel, the group takes more time and greater risks. Separate sounds can gather into a fierce outburst, then seek another shape. Those transitions feel like responses between musicians, rather than steps in an obligatory plan.
Not everyone will want to remain inside that activity throughout. The long pieces and abrasive sounds can become tiring if you mainly want clear resting points. It helps that Passed Down introduces a sparer, acoustic atmosphere at the end. The album also understands distance and softer colours.
Share The Wealth asks for attention and a tolerance for some disorder. In return, it offers musicians exploring their possibilities with audible enjoyment. Cline makes space for the others while retaining enough character in his guitar to give the record a clear centre.
