Ben Goldberg

The concept behind Ben Goldberg’s erudite Good Day For Cloud Fishing, an album of original tunes inspired by Dean Young’s poems, is best summed up by guitarist Nels Cline. The album, he writes in the liners, comprises “music inspired by poetry and performed while the poet who inspired it sat typing new poems inspired by the music he inspired.” The smartly packaged album comes along with 24 poems, two to a card, meant to be read with each track.

The setup seems too clever by half, but the result is exhilarating; grouping Cline and trumpeter Ron Miles with Goldberg’s various clarinets is inspired. Miles’ timbre—a dark, masked tone—sinks into the reedy warmth of the clarinet. Cline’s guitar can be unobtrusive or forceful—both with sublime effect.

PERSONNEL:

• Ben Goldberg - Bb clarinet, contra-alto clarinet
• Nels Cline - electric guitar
• Ron Miles - trumpet
• Dean Young - typewriter

Recorded in Ne York, November 2017

TRACKS:

• 01. Demonic Possession is 9/10ths The Law
• 02. Parthenogenesis
• 03. Phantom Pains
• 04. A Rhythmia
• 05. Corpse Pose
• 06. Because She Missed A Test, She Introduced Me to Her Son
• 07. Reality
• 08. Sub Club Punch Card
• 09. Ant-Head Sutures
• 10. Someone Has To Be Lowered Into The Whale Skull For The Ambergris
• 11. Surprised Again By Rain
• 12. An Ordinary Day Somewhere.