BY ANTONIA ZAPPIA
CD release ‘I Did That Tomorrow’
By Tess Said So (Rasa Daukus and Will Larsen)
‘I Did That Tomorrow’ is the curious brain-child of piano and percussion duo Tess Said So. It’s the collaborative pairing of pianist and University of Canberra Director of Music Rasa Daukus and ARIA winning percussionist and composer Will Larsen. Tess Said So revels in the whimsical beauty of genre hopscotch in their debut album. Ideas are thrown into the ambient, classical, electro-pop, ’80s pop and minimalist arenas gently and with grace.
One of the first real pleasures of this album is the production and recording quality. I thoroughly enjoy listening with headphones, and then portable Bose speakers. Headphones allow for an aural cat and mouse chase on some of the more electronically based numbers such as ‘Planted This’, and speakers provide an opportunity for the album’s ambience to shine through (try ‘Seven Suns’). It’s a treat to have a producer achieve such a harmonious balance between two instruments that can easily cause sonic fatigue.
Then there’s the music itself. Opening track ‘Dew Point’ begins sparsely building into rhythmic reckless abandon as the piano and ride cymbals chase each other back and forth wittily. Conversation between the motifs is light and playful with a hint of dark humour. ‘Sometimes Never’ reminds me of a drunken jaunt one might take in a cemetery. Chords cluster and crunch in a gothic waltz relieved only by the luminous coos of glockenspiel and bells that enter part of the way through.
‘The Snap Beans Aren’t Salty’ is a title that would disappoint a seasoned foodie, but it’s a sonic delight for any musical gourmet. The piano’s siren call rallies up an infectious percussive march. It’s definitely NSFW if you don’t enjoy being stared at for the toe tapping and head nodding that will ensue from its groove. Title track ‘I Did That Tomorrow’ is another nod to a classical sensibility applied to a pop format. It has a Phil Collins vibe which would perfectly underscore a classic ’80s movie.
At the end of our journey we’re lulled into the beautiful ‘Within It, Along’. It’s a stunning piece; the warmth of the vibes transports the listener to a headspace usually only achieved in mindfulness classes. It’s music similar to that playing at the end of a wonderful fantasy film; you’ve been on this sonic journey, you’ve met some memorable characters, and now it’s sadly all over. However, you were fortunate enough to buy the album – so there’s no need to wait for the metaphorical Blu-ray. Now listen and enjoy taking the adventure again!
Image supplied.
