CD Review: KTU: 'Quiver"

KTU'sQuiverPublished in The Message For The Week, 6/09 Featuring Trey Gunn (King Crimson) on Warr Guitar, Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson) on "rhythmic devices, beats and noises" and Kimmo Pohjonen (Kluster) on vocals, experimental accordion, live loops and effects, KTU (pronounced "K2") is a unique blend of talent indeed. The accordion virtuoso (yes, this man is worthy of such a title) Pohjonen has quite a resume entrenched in experimental and ambient music, while Gunn and Mastelotto have also developed quite a reputation in the progressive rock world. Quiver is the trio's second release, following up 2004's live disc 8 Armed Monkey .
The tracks on Quiver are more concise than that of the first release, with seemingly more emphasis on Pohjonen's unique way of creating a wide range of both atmospheric passages, world-music themes and sometimes chaotic solos. However the edgy drumming style of Mastelotto and the guitar/bass double-punch of Gunn's Warr Guitar certainly lends the music to the progressive side as well.
It would seem that even a accordion player however, virtuoso (some have called him the "Jimi Hendrix" of the instrument) would perhaps take a step back within the framework of this progressive music but in fact, Kimmo's entrancing tones seemingly lift the music to some transcendent level. The trio creates shimmering soundscapes, intricate rhythms and powerful bursts of guitar that bridges together progressive rock with other-worldly patterns of ambience and electronica. Also, Pohjonen's vocal expressions are at times spiritual and his accordion passages can at times, give off a sort of European or old-world vibe.
Recorded at The Zone studio in Dripping Springs, Texas between 2007 and 2008, Bunn, Mastelotto and Pohjonen produced the effort. Additional recording was done at 7Directions Studio in Seattle and Seawolf studio in Helsinki. Steven Wilson (of Porcupine Tree fame) also contributed additional mixing on three of the tracks, and Samuli Kosminen of the Icelandic band MuM also contributed percussion.