Though they formed in 1998, New York duo Mikroknytes have only four full-length albums to their name, certainly not a paltry total, but a bit of an aberration in a time when, especially for improvisers, even a rate of one disc per year is a light load. Sess-Supastreng, their latest release, self-released on the Kavekavity label, is their first output of any sort since 2003, and, unless its live origins were left uncharacteristically absent by the duo, it’s the first full-length recorded in-studio by Mikroknytes. The switch from live sound as source material doesn’t seem to have had an obvious effect on Mikroknytes sound, however, which remains a blanket of analog electronics interspersed with oft-disguised doses of heavily effected violin.
Don’t let the chess pieces on the cover fool you, Sess-Supastreng doesn’t seem to rely on premeditated moves, or rigorous systems practice. Instead, Derek Mourton and John Coursey opt for improvisations that strike out on more textural tangents, more sonic environments than they are listening objects, per se. Given this, it’s often a far more rewarding endeavor to consider some of Sess-Supastreng ‘s tracks as a whole, rather than concentrating on singular sounds or fragments. “Avereeder” can seem jumbled an indistinct if one focuses too intently on exactly what’s happening, but feels more enjoyable and fluid during a less intense listen. “Alvino Litner” is representative of the approach that seems best suited to Mikroknytes instrumentation and techniques, the elongated tones and textural drones that the duo elicit coexist very comfortably, and as the album shifts gears in its second half, and Mikroknytes move further in this direction, Sess-Supastreng is all the better for it.
The live Mikroknytes experience is often an audio/visual one, as aspect that’s never been communicated through their audio-only releases. The visual aspect of their performance is a valuable addition to their improvisations, and can act as a cohesive force during the music’s more fragmented or crowded moments. A future release by the band that captures the true multimedia effects of the group would be a welcome addition to their discography, and one that might be the best representation of what Mikroknytes have to offer.
