One just has to love a label that branches out into a broad range of musical approaches, a label such as No Sides Records. Since their initial contact with Disaster Amnesiac, it's been a pleasure to hear the many and varied sounds that they've pushed out into the world so far, not the least of which has been this year's Kepler's Choice, a release by Robert Poss and E-Clark Cornell. For starters just look at that great Abstract Expressionist cover art! Don't know about anyone else, but when this fan sees an album with visuals such as that, it's intrigue at minimum. Additionally interesting are the c.v. of this work's two creators. Poss found renown as a founding member of Band of Susans and Cornell has logged countless credits with some of the top flight Euro Art Rock bosses. These two have put in the work, that's for sure. As for the sounds of their collaborative work, they are based within the aesthetics of contemporary composition and symphonic works. Generally longer pieces during which modal explorations are presented, that's the set list on Kepler's Choice. Much of the album features moods of minimalist atmosphere, sometimes brooding and sometimes ecstatic. The duo of Poss and Cornell pull many different timbres from their respective rigs on each of the eight tracks, yet there is a genuine cohesiveness that binds them all, making for a very coherent listening experience. Pieces such as the ripple effect from an emotional error, Russian Tea Room, and Codified Betrayal would be so great if presented at and by a symphony. Large string sections would suit their writing ideally. Excellent piano passages extend forms but retain melodic aspects that are warm and inviting as their electronic frames float alongside and atop. Yesterday, as Kepler's Choice streamed from my desktop speakers a large rain front rolled up in the sky above, and it was the perfect soundtrack for observing it as it floated by. Find a nice quiet time and spot in which to listen to this low key but intense release from two veterans and it'll surely float your perceptions to some interesting spaces.
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