Ontology, improvisation, construction, deliberate obstinacy in “Morning / mourning” (Cacophonous Revival Recordings) by Jessica Ackerley on #neuguitars #blog
Jessica Ackerley writes on her website Jessica Ackerley (tumblr.com) about her intentions and goals as an artist:
“As a guitarist and musician, I strive to achieve an auditory dialogue between the bounds of sound quantifying music and its navigation through an emotive landscape of one’s personal experience. I pursue concepts of transcendence above convention, inward contemplation of outer experience, and the struggle of defining one’s authentic-self by disarming projected roles of patriarchal society. By exploring these spheres, I continually develop a hybrid musical language with my instrument; drawing on the influences of Black American Music and avant-garde improvisers, as well as the culture of the thriving New York City’s rock and noise scenes. This language is expressed across intuitive and designful musical situations, either as a collaborator or soloist. Through the guitar, I continually explore the degrees of separation between natural sound and treated amplification, as well as acoustical noise and conventional melody. Through performance, I attempt to create musical structure between intuition and preconception; engaging listeners through the dualism of spontaneity and composition with each unique encounter I present them.”
It sounds like a miniature manifesto. As a programmatic declaration of intent, which anticipates a very precise, long-lasting artistic plan. A desire that meets well with this album “Morning / mourning”, entirely dedicated to a musical dialogue between the limits of music, which is quantified as pure sound and navigation within an emotional landscape of her personal artistic experience. A free improvisation CD in solo, generated in one’s own intimacy, is not unusual. It is a recurring desire in the context of free improvisation and expresses the desire to represent a rarefied essence, which concerns the interaction between the conscious and unconscious part of the musician’s mind. “Morning / mourning” is clearly intended for repeated listening and critical and careful evaluation. It expresses much of the artist’s will, of the inner contemplation of one’s external and internal experience, and of the personal struggle to define one’s authentic self, disarming the roles envisaged by the society that surrounds us. Ackerley develops in 9 tracks a hybrid musical language with her own instrument; drawing on the influences of black American music and avant-garde improvisers, choosing to explore the simple instrument / amplifier chain, without filters, pedals or genre effects. A courageous choice that reveals a personal language made of exploration between natural sound and treated amplification, between acoustic noise and conventional melody, between intuition and preconception, between spontaneity and composition. One of the best albums of this sad and breathless 2021. Jessica Ackerley is one of the names to follow in the coming years. Highly recommended. She’s amazing.
NeuGuitars 