emilie škrijelj & tom malmendier | tropism @ jazz world (us)

Probing the immensity of percussion textures is Belgian drummer Tom Malmendier in these duets, propelling resonances that range from the unexpected to the unforeseen. Cordially stroking parts of a regular kit on Vanguard, he’s paired with another unconventional player Belgian guitarist Dirk Serries. Providing a boost to abstraction on Tropism, Malmendier uses drums and objects to match pulsations from French turntable and electronics player Émilie Škrijelj.

In musical intercourse with Škrijelj, Malmendier’s usual partner, on the other disc her synthesized collection of judders, buzzes, whistles and glitch vibrations cause the percussionist to respond with fragmented rhythms and emphasize twisting and pummeling. These reflex reactions are given the most space to evolve organically on “Patoko Mata”, which at 20 minutes is twice as long as the other two tracks combined. Besides the rugged plops and frenetic beats, in response to Škrijelj’s pennywhistle-like shrills, percussion vibrates timbres that sound like slapping on plastic bottles. As backwards-running tape-flanges that include sped up voices create a section demarcation, the partners reverse roles. Now it’s his paradiddles that are light and understated with her harsh turntable rubs and screeches creating a percussive bottom. Eventually power pumps and cries give way to samples of squealing multi-tracked voices that yowl and yodel beside subtle drum rotation, finally giving way to a concluding drum pop and electronic squeak.

Not what many would imagine when confronted by percussion duos, there are many unexpected and surprisingly positioned textures to be heard on these CDs.