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 Ben Monder, Excavation
Arabesque AJ0148, 2000
Cyberhome: www.arabesquerecords.com

Guitarist Ben Monder packs this highly original album with a panoply 
of ideas. The dreamlike voice of Theo Bleckmann gives the music an 
almost medieval, spooky quality. The compositions couldn't be more 
modern, however. "Ellenville" and "Hatchet Face" are the album's epic 
statements, combining serious grooves with technically staggering 
ensemble passages, wordless vocalizing, and brilliant guitar playing. 
How Bleckmann manages to sing Monder's highly complex lines is a 
mystery. "Mistral" and "Windowpane" are built around dense, repeated 
arpeggio figures that spiral into patterns within patterns, creating 
a dizzying harmonic whirlpool. "Luteous Pangolin" and "Sunny 
Manitoba" are melodic and relatively straightforward; the latter 
gives Monder, bassist Skuli Sverrisson, and drummer Jim Black a 
chance to lay back and blow over chord changes. "Etching," an 
amorphous, atmospheric piece, features the album's only lyrics. 
Finally, "You Are My Sunshine" finds Monder on solo acoustic guitar, 
putting the famous children's song through its paces.

Excavation contains some of the most unique, invigorating music released during the year 2000. ~David R. Adler

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