New excursions

Parker is joined by the outstanding Danish group Ghost in the Machine, and Master of Little Sounds, Martin Klapper for an exquisite set recorded live at the Copenhagen International Experimental Festival. While this is not Parker’s first recording with the group, it is distinguished by excellent sound quality and a synergy that comes from familiar interaction. A remarkable quality in Parker is his ability to perform naturally in varied contexts. Here, he comfortably immerses himself in the noise element and alters his technique accordingly. The results are totally compelling, as Peter Friis Nielsen’s electric bass guitar and Klapper’s “toys, tapes, and amplified objects” provide enough diversity to keep the listener consistently on edge. Ghost in the Machine are likely a blast to watch in person, and the concept somehow translates incredibly well to disc. – Steve Loewy