Trinity: A Quick Review Of The New Album From Lawrence English And Stephen Vitiello (Feat. Brendan Canty)

Within seconds of the first track on the new Lawrence English and Stephen Vitiello album starting, you feel like you are in a warm and familiar place. For anyone who's spent time with Brian Eno's instrumental albums in the Seventies, Trinity will satisfy in the same way. Found sounds, electronics, and musical instruments co-mingle in these musical selections to suggest spaces removed from the everyday, and yet right within our reach.

Opener "With Chris" is an epic-length piece with effects and keyboards from Chris Abrahams (The Necks). "With Marina" finds the musicians adding turntables and effects from Marina Rosenfeld to the mix, and letting the music progress into a jittery, more cluttered space. The highlight of the record is "With Brendan" where English and Vitiello join Brendan Canty (Rites of Spring, Fugazi, The Messthetics). The percussive effects and drums of the D.C. legend propel the piece, and give a kind of energy to what is otherwise down-tempo, contemplative music.

Trinity is an expansive record, and one where a listener can find a multitude of moods within the ambient / new music genre. The pieces are largely engrossing, and insistent even as they maintain a sort of chill and distance. The precision of the approach here is impressive, and the album highly recommended.

Trinity by Lawrence English and Stephen Vitiello is out now via American Dreams. Details below as well.

[Photo: Sari Roden]