Now here’s one for mature musical tastes. Kamancello are Shahriyar Jamshidi on the kamanche and Raphael Weinroth-Browne on the cello and their self-titled album blurs the borders between classical music and world folk music with the influences of both east and west present and precariously balanced on the knife edge of improvisation.
This is, however, not a free form album of confused ideas presented as innovation rather it is an album of focussed intention and no small amount of sheer hard work. Thematically, a journey from west to east and back takes place but the rails that this musical train runs on are made of maturity. Nothing here is trivial, as you might expect given that the shortest track “Confrontation” runs for almost six minutes, and Kamancello never allow themselves to be side tracked. Nor is a moment wasted with more than adequate complexity always available to entrance the ears of the connoisseur.
Yet this is no mere academic exercise nor is it an example of self-indulgence and Kamancello have produced music here that transcends the limitations of technology by simply avoiding its misuse. Their album requires more concentration to fully appreciate than many will possess these days but those who persevere will be rewarded by an uplifting reminder of what man and musical instrument can achieve together.
Available from Bandcamp.