Alex Cunningham and Eli Wallace - “The Terrible Habit of Theatre”

Duo LP with pianist Eli Wallace (NYC). Released by Storm Cellar and Personal Archives on LP and digital. Edition of 250. Available here.

"On their debut duo recording, 'The Terrible Habit of Theatre,' Alex Cunningham and Eli Wallace display the kind of sympathetic telepathy typically demonstrated by long-established units. Showcasing their interconnectivity and patient communication, the album takes the shape of an engaging conversation, wherein listening supersedes speaking.

Though occasionally dense and frenetic in their exchanges, as evidenced at the top of album opener 'Fog Line,' Cunningham and Wallace frequently opt for more languid, exploratory passages, exploring the potential of their instruments through extended technique.

Violinist Cunningham exploits the inherent acoustic qualities of his instrument, the wood and strings themselves integral components of his expression. Wallace, through his prepared piano, creates a diverse tapestry of sounds both percussive and canorous. On 'I-94,' Wallace suggests the sonance of Gamelan, the duo building confidently in rhythmic intensity, receding only slightly before bursting.

Texture is paramount in these improvisations, with the artists eschewing traditional timbres and tones, creating an expansive new vocabulary that is synesthesiac in its sensory scope. Exhibiting bold internal logic, 'The Terrible Habit of Theatre' represents a stunning achievement by two of the most exciting voices in contemporary free improvisation."

-Bob Bucko Jr.

releases October 25, 2024

Alex Cunningham: violin, objects

Eli Wallace: piano, objects

Recorded by Ryan Wasoba at Bird Cloud Recording

Mastered by Andrew Weathers

Artwork and layout by Alex Cunningham

Released by Storm Cellar and Personal Archives

SC007 - PA//225