Taking world beat into experimental territory, Gina Biver (http://www.ginabiver.com) completely lets herself go, creating music with structure but no stylistic boundaries whatsoever.
To the englightened, there is genius at work here although I can't recommend it to listeners who'd rather play it safe. Perhaps in the context of a film, Biver's unusual yet vividly illustrated textures would present themselves in a much clearer fashion. But I have to admit there is a thrill in hearing music that opens a myriad possibilities. Biver utilizes spare parts from jazz, techno, and folk music to stitch together an audio pretzel. Even if it doesn't make sense to you, you have to admire its artistic courage.
"Carol Broke a Dish" recalls Laurie Anderson's spoken-word avant-pop pieces from two decades ago, but with its blend of electronic and jazz rhythms it becomes its own animal. Kris Miller's violin swirls into the mix, creating a disorienting effect that is quite compelling. "Be Ground" and "Purse Sized Gong" also feature the violin in a prominent role but Diver's songs never really stay the same; they shift with the weather, and don't be suprised to hear other instruments fade in and out of the mix.
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The most powerful track here is "Sahara," which clocks in at a prog rock standard of 9:59. With its moody, slow tempo and ambient jazz arrangements, "Sahara" could've been recorded for a film. In this case, though, that movie could very well be having an exclusive engagement in your mind.
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