Detailed Reviews [Xavi Reija - 2019 - "The Sound Of The Earth"]

Prolusion. Spanish drummer Xavi Reija has a career that goes back to the 1990s, and his resume of artists he has worked with in some capacity or other over the years makes for a rather impressive read. He stepped up as a band leader back in 2006 with the project Xavi Reija's Electric Quintet, and released two albums with this project, and later on he formed a new band constellation called Xavi Reija's Electric Trio. In between these projects, Reija have released a total of four purebred solo albums. "The Sound of the Earth" is the third of those solo productions, and was released by the label Moonjune Records back in 2019.

Analysis. It is an expressive and instrumental variety of progressive rock that is explored on this production, and here Reija are backed by a trio of musicians with a pedigree just about as impressive as his own. With bass player Tony Levin perhaps being the most well known of those musicians. With that artist as a part of the band and Moonjune Records being the label of choice, those familiar with artists and labels in the scene will probably expect that jazz will be a part of this experience in some form or other, and that is correct too. But perhaps not quite in the manner some people might expect. The compositions here are soundscapes just as much as anything else, and while Reija shines as a provider of powerful and expressive rhythm explosions just as much as a player able and willing to focus on the subtle and gentle details, his fellow musicians showcase what I'd describe as expressive restraint more than anything else here. Flowing and elegant motions is a key element here, with many of the compositions staying close to or inside of ambient landscapes in many of the songs, and a recurring feature are gradual build-ups into powerful surges that subsequently move on to a gentle conclusion. Levin deliver wandering jazz-oriented motifs just as much as a controlled support presence, while the guitarists Jevtovic and Reuter really gets to showcase their talents on this album in what have to be described as a defining manner. Searching delicate sounds, resonances and explorations that develop into lead motifs and solo runs of various kinds is a staple here, with clean light toned guitar expressions gliding over to dissonant and noise-infused textures and back again being a typical development. Often with one guitarist, presumably Reuter in many cases, delivering more careful or textured displays that in sound at times comes across as keyboards. The contrast between flowing harmony-oriented modes of delivery and more off kilter, noise-oriented or other forms of distorted or subtly disruptive elements is something of a key feature, and the occasional mix and blend with a more bluesy attitude and a more distinctly jazz-oriented execution is another facet to the landscapes explored here. And even when the foursome comes together in a more firm and tight manner on the concluding 'Take a Walk', this is also executed and delivered in a subtly chaotic and subtly off kilter manner.

Conclusion. Those with a taste and a passion for high quality instrumental progressive rock explored and delivered by seasoned musicians with an impressive resume that thrive when exploring a more challenging and possibly partially improvised variety of jazz-flavored progressive rock should find this album to be quite the tasteful experienced. If this, along with searching and slowly developing landscapes and the occasional borderline ambient oriented escapade and the recurring use of dramatic and chaotic surges are regarded as positive descriptions in your book, this is an album that will provide you with plenty of intriguing and mesmerizing moments and experiences.

Progmessor: July 2024