Ergo: Multitude, Solitude

In his own words trombonist Brett Sroka surrounded himself with synthesizers “to reconcile the six hundred years of technology between the trombone and the computer” and for the most part, this album connects, on a broadband scale.

Along with Sroka, the trio of Ergo consists of Carl Maguire on Rhodes and electric piano, Prophet Synthesizer and electric effects with Shawn Baltazor handling the drums.

Coming in at over twelve minutes, second song “Vessel” does not fall into the common trap that some “electronic” music faces of repetitive beat that loses it focus or the sparse electronics lead nowhere. Sroka plays stretched out trombone lines and Baltazor adds a sort of “African” fills on drums.

Some of the songs on the album are compact. Most of these types of albums like to stretch out their songs into the ten to twelve minute range but not on this album. “Little Shadow” says all it needs to say within five minutes. Carl Maguire takes the song through a synthesizer sort of Herbie Hancock trip with sparse chords throughout. It is not quite fusion and for the five minutes, it works.

For “Endlessly (multitude, solitude)” the electronic has a chance to shine through. Though again not overbearing in any sense there is that air of well “Air” in the track, it is laid back without getting too caught up in driving electronics.

Throughout the album, each song appears to sound like it each has its own story to tell. They are not just a collection of compositions put together in order to make an album. Each song and the album as a whole has direction, not stuck sounding like an “electrazzic” album because putting one out is the new fangled thing to do. Whilst ergo some may get this album and some may not.

Originally Published April 27, 2009