The last album Thurston Moore released, 2017’s Rock n Roll Consciousness, contained some of the most engaging and brightly psychedelic based tunes of his career. Now Moore follows his more experimental muse to an extreme, releasing Spirit Counsel, a three-CD Box Set on his Daydream Library Series record label. These instrumental numbers are not for the casual listener as Moore and company play with sound, mood and texture, leaving song structure far behind.
The first disc is over an hour of one uninterrupted movement, yet it is not too far removed from the best expansive passages on Rock n Roll Consciousness or his more rock poised Sonic Youth past. Titled “Alice Moki Jayne” after the female partners of three jazz greats (Coltrane, Cherry and Cortez respectively) the offering finds the players (guitarists Moore, James Sedwards, Jen Chochinov, bassist Deb Googe drummer Jem Doulton and electronics Jon Leidecker) beginning slowly with light twinkling sounds around glowing vibrations as the track ascends.
Things drop into a gallop with straight-ahead bass/drums and chugging guitars delving through very familiar territory for Moore before the chaos starts to rise to white noise levels around the half-hour mark. This is also comfortable footing as the din dances around speakers before melting into more melodic terrain. The journey is fulfilling and scenic as things never become too far removed from the path, yet remain adventurous, gliding easily towards a swirling rock-inspired climax of pounding low end, digital blasts, feedback and ringing chords.
On the other end of the spectrum, the second-hour long disc is dedicated to “Galaxies” which was inspired by Sun Ra’s poem of the same name. This sound poem finds Moore composing and conducting twelve guitarists (Moore, Sedwards, Googe and Chochinov again with David Toop, Susan Stenger, Alex Ward, Jen, Jonah Falco, Rachel Aggs, Joseph Coward, Eugene Coyne & James McCartney) arraigned as one instrument to twinkle, scratch, clang, strum and echo in cacophonous fashion. There are stunningly gorgeous peak moments that arise as well as extended tumultuous passages of fractured strings.
The final entry is “8 Spring St”, a number dedicated to his mentor Glenn Branca and the apartment where Moore first rehearsed with him. This more personal solo exhibition displays Thurston layering his playing around repetitive motifs building up to screeching feedback. He creates a base of sound which grows with each echoing flared note/strum until ear-piercing blasts rise only to fall back down during its half-hour run time.
Spirit Counsel is a testament to Moore’s musical vision, no wave roots, tonal sound and guitar style as he remains both clanging and melodic. Adventurous listeners will reap rewards from the textures and endless twists/turns Moore brings to these three long guitar-based passages.
