GAZ-ETA review by Tom Sekowski

Elliott Sharp – Octal: Book One (CF 002)
Second part of his Guitar Series for Clean Feed Records, Elliott Sharp this time around switches over to an electro acoustic “guitarbass”. Basically, a custom-made instrument, which is more or less a hollow body electric guitar with an additional two bass strings. “Octal: Book One” is in fact more manageable than Sharp’s take on Monk covers. His idiosyncratic ideas get filtered through a sharply-sounding instrument that gives off a rich variety of diverse sounds. Certain moments, you get an impression you’re hearing a violin, while at others, you may mistake it for a strangely-tuned bass. His rapid, finger-snapping, psychotic slaps are fired off in random succession. Sharp wanted to allot a live, improvised feel to the record and the limited takes he allowed with every track worked their magic. Another proof of staying power of one, seriously under appreciated, master musician.
http://www.gaz-eta.vivo.pl/gaz-eta/recenzje/gazeta.php?nr=65&id=s_23

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