The second release from two of the most fearless and creative improvisers on the planet, guitarist Craig Green and drummer Dave King. Moontower is not so much an object or fixed location as it is a state mind or stream of consciousness channeled from the energy that these two sonic sculptors posses.

Recorded and mixed over two days at the vintage audio temple, The Hideout which is nestled along the Mississippi River in King’s hometown of Minneapolis. Coincidentally, Green is from the opposite end of the river, born in New Orleans. Both musicians, set-up in one large space, surround by classic organs, amps and electronics must have looked like they were about to perform the latest Ennio Morriconi score to a 50’s sci-fi film. Sonically that may not be too far from the truth. Both Green and King have a love and pull toward a modern aesthetic. Not always the sharp and angular kind that shocks the listener into submission, but the variety that invites you in, shows you the way then offers you a unique and wildly different path to the future. Like a classic Eames chair, the past, present and future all in the same moment happen.

This is dark and moody music, like a night time soundtrack to a desert landscape, where “blue” and “black” and the light of the moon surround you. These are sounds that will haunt your imagination and will get inside you like a cold chill when you walk out into the great wide spaces on silent nights.The second release from two of the most fearless and creative improvisers on the planet, guitarist Craig Green and drummer Dave King. Moontower is not so much an object or fixed location as it is a state mind or stream of consciousness channeled from the energy that these two sonic sculptors posses.

Recorded and mixed over two days at the vintage audio temple, The Hideout which is nestled along the Mississippi River in King’s hometown of Minneapolis. Coincidentally, Green is from the opposite end of the river, born in New Orleans. Both musicians, set-up in one large space, surround by classic organs, amps and electronics must have looked like they were about to perform the latest Ennio Morriconi score to a 50’s sci-fi film. Sonically that may not be too far from the truth. Both Green and King have a love and pull toward a modern aesthetic. Not always the sharp and angular kind that shocks the listener into submission, but the variety that invites you in, shows you the way then offers you a unique and wildly different path to the future. Like a classic Eames chair, the past, present and future all in the same moment happen.

This is dark and moody music, like a night time soundtrack to a desert landscape, where “blue” and “black” and the light of the moon surround you. These are sounds that will haunt your imagination and will get inside you like a cold chill when you walk out into the great wide spaces on silent nights.

Jim McAuley fa parte di una schiera di chitarristi improvvisatori che ridefiniscono il proprio strumento, come Derek Bailey, Fred Frith, Joe Morris, ed esponenti dell’avant-folk come John Fahey e Robbie Basho. Nei suoi lavori troviamo una presenza profondamente personale e lirica, così come un suono dalla firma unica che si mescola con la sua intensità.

Questa nuova collezione di registrazioni da solista è la testimonianza dell’ampio range espressivo e improvvisativo di McAuley e non di meno della sua creatività in costante sviluppo. Utilizzando una vasta gamma di chitarre acustiche, accordature non ortodosse e originali “preparazioni”, crea una ricca trama nel suo mondo sonoro che incorpora jazz, blues, folk, elementi classici e contemporanei in uno stile che lui chiama “pan-idiomatic improvisation”. Il primo acclamato album da solista (“Gongfarmer 18”) gli regala la reputazione di maestro della chitarra acustica. Questo nuovo lavoro conferma ulteriormente il valore e lo spessore di questo artista.

“Gongfarmer 36” è una raccolta tratta da numerosi spettacoli live, registrazioni in studio e casalinghe. Come tale, essa cattura momenti speciali di improvvisazione estatica, brillante, spontanea, e offre uno sguardo intimo sui meccanismi di una fantasiosa mente creativa.

In aggiunta al suo album solista precedente, McAuley ha registrato due dischi con l’Acoustic Guitar Trio (con Nels Cline e il compianto Rod Poole) e un set di 2 CD di duetti con Leroy Jenkins, Nels Cline, Ken Filiano e Alex Cline. LongSong Records è orgogliosa di contribuire a questo “corpus” che ridefinisce e espande le modalità e le possibilità del chitarrismo del ventunesimo secolo. E’ un disco divertente, sincero ed esaltante.

“Genuinely evocative and refreshingly cliche-bashing work” (Josef Woodard–Los Angeles Times)

“Mr. McAuley’s precise writing and playing is full of blues figures and rich-toned, acoustic-fold resonance. It’s peaceful and rigorous music” (Ben Radcliff–New York Times)

“Jim has the magic!” (Dick Metcalf, Improvijazzation Nation)

“He’s capable of putting your heart in full-resonance mode” (Massimo Ricci, Touching Extremes)Jim McAuley is one of a lineage of improvising guitarists redefining the instrument like Derek Bailey, Fred Frith, Joe Morris, and avant-folk pickers like John Fahey and Robbie Basho. He brings a deeply personal and lyrical presence to his work as well as a unique signature sound, stirring in its intensity and generosity.

This new collection of solo recordings is testimony to McAuley’s wide range of improvisatory expression and constantly unfolding creativity. Utilizing a wide variety of acoustic guitars, unorthodox tunings and original “preparations”, he creates a richly textured sound-world incorporating jazz, blues, folk, and contemporary classical elements in a style he calls “pan-idiomatic improvisation”. McAuley’s highly acclaimed first solo album (“Gongfarmer 18”) established his reputation as a master of acoustic guitar. This new work further validates and enhances that reputation.

“Gongfarmer 36” was compiled from live performances, studio recordings and home practice tapes. As such, it captures special moments of ecstatic, spontaneous improvisational brilliance and offers an intimate glimpse into the workings of a singularly creative imagination.

In addition to his previous solo album, McAuley has recorded two discs with the Acoustic Guitar Trio (with Nels Cline and the late Rod Poole) and a 2-CD set of duets featuring Leroy Jenkins, Nels Cline, Ken Filiano and Alex Cline. LongSong Records is proud to contribute to a body of work which both defines and expands the myriad dimensions of 21st Century guitar playing. It’s an exhilarating, heartfelt and uplifting record.

“Genuinely evocative and refreshingly cliche-bashing work” (Josef Woodard–Los Angeles Times)

“Mr. McAuley’s precise writing and playing is full of blues figures and rich-toned, acoustic-fold resonance. It’s peaceful and rigorous music” (Ben Radcliff–New York Times)

“Jim has the magic!” (Dick Metcalf, Improvijazzation Nation)

“He’s capable of putting your heart in full-resonance mode” (Massimo Ricci, Touching Extremes)