Centripetal Force Records is back with the release of Elijah McLaughlin and Caleb Willitz’s duo debut Morning Improvisations / Evening Abstractions. This collection of improvisational excellence is now available for pre-order and will be released on June 7th.
McLaughlin is a Chicago-based guitarist who has released some critically acclaimed records as bandleader of the Elijah McLaughlin Ensemble. His friend and longtime collaborator, Willitz, is a noted recording engineer, producer, and sound artist. The duo is in their element on the new record, which features eight tracks chock-full of experimentation.
The duo worked in Willitz’s studio without the restraints of time, allowing them total freedom to let the spirit guide them. They used a refurbished 8-track tape machine, so their only constraint was the 25-minute limit of the analog tape reels.
McLaughlin played electric guitar routed through stereo amplifiers and various effects, while Willitz played piano while simultaneously controlling a tape delay with a foot pedal. The result is a relaxing yet sometimes frenzied set of soundscapes that exist somewhere between ambient music, free jazz, and post-rock. It’s pretty the heady blend of sounds.
The new record is also firmly rooted in the musical ecosystem of the duo’s Chicago home. There are shades of the city’s abstract jazz, minimalist, and free improv scenes throughout. The Chicago influence is also felt by the contributions of guest artists, each of whom represents a different flavor of the city’s fertile music scene. We should also note that California-based composer, musician, and producer Chuck Johnson expertly mastered the project.
With a runtime of just under forty minutes, Morning Improvisations / Evening Abstractions is improvisational music good for fans of groups like Elkhorn, Dire Wolves, and Jeffrey Alexander + The Heavy Lidders. It should come as no surprise that all those groups mentioned above have appeared on Centripetal Force’s roster at one point or another.
“Vesper” is the opening track, building in intensity slowly but surely and combining the wild spirit of free rock with the volcanic build-up of post-rock. “Vesper Pt. 2” features Coltrane-esque saxophone howling and a messy, chaotic wall of brass and percussion sounds that’s still easy on the ears.
“Insomnist” flutters with drum rolls and various noises that glimmer but also feel subterranean while leaning into the jazz influence. “Rest” is an apt track name, as the intensity of the previous songs winds down, and McLaughlin’s gentle guitar glides into spiritual jazz mode.
“A Clock For No Time” is an intriguing track title, perhaps even an existential one. What’s the sound of one hand clapping, anyway? Like “Rest,” this is also a softer track, fit for insomniacs and cool Chicago summer nights.
The record closes with “Awakening,” and it’s here that we see how ambient music has been incorporated into an album with plenty of louder free rock and jazz improvisation. Amid the softer sounds, the crazed saxophone cries out like a madman yelling on a street corner while no one pays him any mind.
Overall, Morning Improvisations / Evening Abstractions is a terrific new record from a label that reliably supplies the goods. McLaughlin and Willitz may not have created an album together before, but they seem like a natural pairing. Let’s hope they collaborate again soon. Enjoy!
You can support Centripetal Force Records by finding them on Bandcamp, their official website, or social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
Consider supporting The Third Eye on Patreon here.
Sign up for email updates to The Third Eye below:
The Third Eye 
Leave a comment