Caldiero: Inspiring, Theta: Not so much
author: Ed Banky
I saw Alex Caldiero perform live with Theta Naught a few weeks back, and was immediately reeled in. Theta Naught's live performance was far superior to that on this record. I'd use the word "droning" to describe their "improvisations" since they generally ride a single bass note or a chord throughout a song, with some minor variations. The drummer is the backbone of the music, as I see it. It isn't horrible, and it serves as a suitable backdrop to Caldiero's incredible talent.
The live show included a harpist, which was a welcome addition. It also seemed that the cellist added more than he does on this CD set.
Caldiero, as I have said, is in top form. With better accompaniment, this one would have gotten 5 stars.
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like nothing i've ever heard
author: James (Underground Review)
Well this will surly go down as one of the more interesting albums Underground Review has received in the mail… and one of the most hard to elucidate as well. Theta Naught’s 3rd (?) and latest full-length release “Sound Weave” has literally left me stumped in most, if not all, of its aspects. So… grab a bag of Doritos, an ice cold Pepsi, and find yourself a comfortable position in your chair, because this may take a while…
First of all, this album is comprised of two discs; disc one features 12 tracks of basically just background music complimented by fellow spoken word poet/artist Alex Caldiero in which, through the subtle music he glides along with his unusual and thought-provoking poetry. And then the second disc is made up of 8 tracks and is all instrumental. I had not heard much of anything from Theta Naught previous of receiving this album, so I really had no idea what to expect here. Upon a little research about this 5-piece I discovered a highly impressive fact that all of
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stands entirely alone among a collection of floundering artists.
author: Andrew (invisiblelimb)
When I first listened to this, I listened to it out of order and it in turn started me out on a bad foot. There are two seperate discs on this release and I had listened to the bonus disc. I thought I knew what I was expecting to hear, but I failed to hear it. It was purely instrumental pianos, drums, synths, strings, et cetera. Then I finally get around to the main disc; the one with Theta Naught and Alex Caldiero. Immediately after listening, the phrase “avante-garde” came to my mind. It’s not in the same vein of John Cage 4′33″, but it’s definitely crossing certain pre-ordained musical boundaries. I listen to some spoken word/poetry, but nothing like this.
As mentioned before, we have an attractive musical landscape of looping discordance and on top is the voice of the poet speaking his words which fit the music like a glove. If you’ve heard Jim Morrison’s speaking part in the long Doors song “The End” which was famous for the indecipherable scream of a certain four letter word
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seminal experimental rock
author: Smother Magazine - J-Sin
Theta Naught’s third installment and independent release “Sound Weave” allows some of the focus to fall on poet and wordsmith Alex Caldiero. Recorded live complete with total improvisational moments intact, “Sound Weave” is two full discs worth of music with the second disc being purely instrumental for folks who (and I’m sure the musicians as well as the poet/singer) would like to add their own words to these incredibly built soundscapes. Dark and stirring, “Sound Weave” boasts seminal experimental rock that is constructed with keyboard, bass, saw, theremin, drums, cello, and lap-slide guitar along with the pseudo beatnik poetry.
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