John Abercrombie and Ralph Towner have forever been tied to the ECM
roster as leaders and individualists, and initially it was hard to
imagine their styles being compatible. As an amplified electric
guitarist, Abercrombie's steely, sometime unearthly sound was an uneven
puzzle piece alongside the graphic, stoic, classically oriented style of
Towner. Yet on Sargasso Sea, there are several instances where they
merge together as one, feeling their way through pure improvisations,
angular and colorful motifs, or thematic nuances and a certain strata of
consciousness that makes a world of common sense. There are selections
where they both play acoustic guitars, but it is mostly Abercrombie's
hopped up sound through an amp over Towner's bold and beautiful
unplugged instrument, tossing in a piano overdubbed on two tracks. Where
selections such as "Fable" are folksy and far from overwrought,
"Avenue" lopes gracefully and the exceptional "Parasol" is semi-lyrical.
Abercrombie's guitar stands in stark contrast on the near macabre title
track, and more so during "Elbow Room" with heavier moans, cries,
vibrato, echoplex slide incursions, and Towner as an afterthought. The
best track "Staircase," with twin acoustic guitars, sports tricky
intricate lines and changes only virtuosi can achieve. In laid-back
surrender for "Romantic Descension," and in passive voicings on "Over
& Gone," Towner need not strain to make his brilliant voice heard
clearly. An uneven recording for many listeners and critics, Sargasso
Sea deserves a second chance, not as an absolutely flawed, imperfect, or
unbalanced effort. Like a tale of two cities, it stands as a unique
project, perhaps deserving a more refined approach. Though there was a
follow-up album released, a third-time's-the-charm contemporary revisit
from these masterful guitar geniuses would be welcome. by Michael G. Nastos
Tracklist :
1 Fable 8:41
John Abercrombie
2 Avenue 5:19
John Abercrombie
3 Sargasso Sea 4:01
John Abercrombie / Ralph Towner
4 Over and Gone 2:51
John Abercrombie
5 Elbow Room 5:11
John Abercrombie / John Towner / Ralph Towner
6 Staircase 6:25
Ralph Towner
7 Romantic Descension 3:17
John Abercrombie
8 Parasol 5:24
Ralph Towner
Credits :
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – John Abercrombie
Producer [Produced By] – Manfred Eicher
Twelve-String Guitar [12-String], Classical Guitar, Piano – Ralph Towner 
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