Eli Keszler And Ashley Paul

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Customer reviews
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4...according to our Ant on Wed 13 Aug, 2008.

Got a rather smart looking Eli Keszler and Ashley Paul self titled CD on Rel all hand numbered of 100. The last time I listened to Eli Keszler I was very impressed by some of the percussion and here again I have the same reaction. Between them Ashley plays Sax, Clarinet, Bass Harmonica, Bowed Banjo, electronics etc and Eli provides the drums, guitar, violin contact mic etc. I suppose the sound is slightly rooted in free jazz but it goes way beyond that. Sometimes dark and claustrophobic and sometimes manic like a million termites swarming a musical instrument store and devouring the equipment.

REL 006 is the self titled debut by Eli Keszler and Ashley Paul. Across 5 sections, they utilize oddly resonating drums, clarinet, bowed percussion, contra-bass harmonica, saxophone, guitar, nail violin and contact microphone. Creating sounds ranging from the nearly inaudibly low resonance, to crackling high drums, piercing nail violin and rough saxophone shaping.

Silk screened cover with embossed 'rel' on the inside, with a Vellum wrap around sleeve. Packaged in a hand number edition of 100.

Ashley Paul
Residing in Providence Rhode Island, multi-reedist, vocalist and composer
Ashley Paul finds daily inspiration in the sounds and often the silences
surrounding her. Using whispered and distorted melodies, reeds and subtly
explored overtones Ashley creates lyrical, often haunting moments and is equally
involved in high volumes and the nearly inaudible. In addition to her solo
projects, Ashley can be found in duo with Eli Keszler and in trio with Anthony
Coleman and Keszler. Paul recently recorded with Coleman for his December,
2007 release on New World Records. Ashley has collaborated or performed with
Joe Maneri, Phill Niblock, Bryan Eubanks, Loren Connors, Aki Onda, Roscoe Mitchell,
Ran Blake and Greg Kelley and has performed at venues such as The Stone, Issue
Project Room, Brooklyn Summer Stage and Jordan Hall

Eli Keszler is a Providence based composer/multi instrumentalist who
primarily uses percussion to create his sound, which balances droning
harmonics created from bowed percussion with intense fast free rhythms.
He has performed, recorded or collaborated with artists such as Jandek,
Phill Niblock, Roscoe Mitchell, Loren Connors, Anthony Coleman, Aki Onda,
Geoff Mullen (Last Visible Dog), Steve Pyne (Redhorse), Greg Kelley, T Model
Ford and pianist Ran Blake. Performing at venues such as The Institute of
Contemporary Art (Boston), Irving Plaza, Merkin Hall, Issue Project Room, The
Stone and The Knitting Factory (NYC and LA). In addition to his work as a performer
he put up a installation last Spring at the Boston Cyber Arts Festival. Keszler
has recently released a string of solo albums, and a tape on REL records, and
also released a solo LP on Geoff Mullen's Rare Youth label