Albums by this artist

Rabbi Sky (1999)

Alan Licht

Rabbi Sky

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» ERIC WEDDLE | STAFF WRITER

Alan Licht Rabbi Sky Siltbreeze, 1999 RiYL: Keiji Haino, No Neck Blues Band, Dead C, Steve Reich

Rabbi Sky is the third solo full-length from New York City guitarist and musicologist Alan Licht. In between stints with past bands Love Child and Run On, Licht has situated himself as one of the avant's leading, or at least most profiled, guitarists.

Previous meetings with Rudolph Grey, Dean Roberts and Loren MazzaCane Connors have shown Licht in deeper musical roles compared to his solo work. Rabbi Sky is similar to his past LPs Sink The Aging Process and The Evan Dando Of Noise (and even the "Calvin Johnson Has Ruined Music for an Entire Generation 7") in that you wonder why people are talking about the guy.

Utilizing numeric methodologies from the Koran, LaMonte Young and Steve Reich, Licht creates two pieces of massive guitar screech, which, according to the liner notes, are steeped heavily in academic ideas. On first listen though, the pieces seem jumbled in cacophony, teetering on the amplified sound of insects devouring a guitar. For those who have seen Licht's screwdriver/guitar sets, you are familiar with the sound.

Rabbi Sky is splintered into five seemingly different parts or permutations. Upon closer listen, you hear Licht's combinations of multi-tracked guitar and chord organ, as he creates six different pitches and tracks alongside one another. At different inversions, certain tones rise from the mix, taking a brief lead role. The sound is akin to Reich's tape works, as sounds fall out of sync and create a disturbing sense of natural distortion.

The five sections on Rabbi Sky average 5 minutes a piece but aren't connected in anyway. No fading or intermixing joins the small pieces, which don't have much in common besides being composed of six pitches. "All Blues" is similar to Keiji Haino's The Book Of Eternity Set Aflame, one extensive barricade of guitar feedback and atmosphere. Unfortunately the piece doesn't demonstrate Licht's finger picking, more his choice of pedals.

Licht gets a lot of props, and after hearing an album or two, you may wonder what all the fuss is about. Rabbi Sky doesn't change that feeling. Licht is an amazing music critic and purveyor of lost sounds, but his solo work is inimical. For a more worthwhile listening experience, check out Licht's Two Nights collaboration with MazzaCane Connors. It's one of the most beautiful interwoven pieces of country blues this reviewer has ever heard.

ERIC WEDDLE |