If you've been looking for a master Ocatatonic T-Rodimba player,
your search is finally over! Tom Nunn is not only its inventor,
he's a quite agile performer as well. Essentially the T-Rodimba is a
piece of plywood with bent metal rods drilled into it. Banging the
rods creates marimba-like tones. In the case of the Octatonic
T-Rodimba, the tuning is that of the octatonic scale (alternating
whole- and half-steps). Besides the metal rods, the T-Rodimba also
features an assortment of auxiliary steel washers, finishing nails,
textured surfaces, metal discs, etc. that provide other percussive
effects. Mr. Nunn combines these sonorities to intriguing effect on
Burning Palms, which collects ten of his solo
improvisations.
Nunn's musical style is soundly in the experimental camp. He has
little use for traditional melodies or harmonies. Instead, his works
rely on gesture and motion, on texture and timbre. Some tracks on
Burning Palms have a distant African sound, perhaps
due to the fact that the T-Rodimba is a sort of giant version of the
mbira (thumb piano). "Jelly N Jam" is one such piece. After
sort of winding up for a minute, it kicks into a series of
mesmerizing, rhythmic/melodic patterns that stop and start until the
end of the work. "Nonsomnambulant Digression" is another fine piece;
it lasts a bit longer and displays some of the more atmospheric
sounds the T-Rodimba can make.
There's no escaping the fact that Nunn's work can be reminiscent of Harry
Partch's compositions. As Partch is the grand-daddy of homemade
instrument-makers, the mere fact that Nunn makes and performs on his
own instruments unavoidably recalls Partch's work. But like Partch,
Nunn seems concerned with the concept of tuning as a compositional
tool. Though the octatonic scale is hardly as esoteric as some of
Partch's tunings, Nunn's use of it indicates a desire to
escape the tyranny of diatonicism in favor of something more
exotic.
Burning Palms is the sort of CD you buy if you want to
stretch. It requires you to bring a lot to the table, but if you do
it sends you away more than full.
