TranceFormation — Live in Concert
From reading the long winded liner notes, in which the band describes at length, one might think that TranceFormation invented free improvisation, the first explorers in this bold new musical style. In fact, this is about as tired and predictable as 'experimental music' gets, relying on embarrassingly calculated 'spontaneity' and half formed new age philosophizing, never more painfully evident than on the first track "The Same Moon". To illustrate this, I need only provide a sample of the lyrics:
"It seems that we think we all know what is real, what is right in front of us is real. But the more time goes on, I'm not sure... what... is? the real... moon? the patterns on the rug, like facets of a jewel! How many sides!? How many dimensions!? ...lately the more I think about it the less I think I have... any kind of clue and yet at the same time, the strangest thing is that sometimes I think know more and more!" It continues on this way for many minutes.
Elsewhere, there is the cringe-worthy: "I always liked to think that the moon... kinda thought I was special and... watched over me, especially when I was frightened and felt alone. Maybe the moon was like a... big brother, or a mother, that could send its moonbeam arms down around and kind of... hold me in a safe, silver beam!" These lyrics are spoken with forced 'knowing' chuckles and 'quirky' vocal inflections to underscore the existential zaniness.
To the album's credit, most of it does not have lyrics, and certainly, the rest of it is not nearly as embarrassing as the first track. The vocalist makes babbling wordless sounds and vaguely animal sounding bleats over the piano player's runs and the stormy sound of the bass bowing to and fro. Unfortunately, none of the players really puts forth much energy, and ultimately the only pleasant element is the piano, which does have a nice crystalline tone, but it can hardly hold the sound together, which largely lacks direction or cohesion (coming from someone who loves free jazz and all manner of atonal improvisation). For all their descriptions of "being in the moment", they seem to be holding back to me.
Overall, one of the worst albums I have heard in a while. The first track is so bad I almost like it, it's so perfect an example of everything wrong with 'new age' culture and the faux-profundity it attaches to everything, but I couldn't ever bring myself to hear the whole album at once. Steer clear of this unless you like bargain bin CDs of faceless "Music for Yoga and Meditation".