It is clear that Eyvind Kang, violinist for hire to the likes of Mike Patton in recent years, is an enormously talented musician, a composer and performer of great skill, yet it is perhaps not so clear that he can consistently produce brilliant full-length records. “The Narrow Garden” falls foul of that description in a fashion. This is as an album that manages to be both intriguing and enjoyable but never quite the sum of its parts.
For all the superb musicianship and often intriguing arrangement present, “The Narrow Garden” is never truly involving. A relaxing and soothing album, yet with a contemplative streak running through it, the music often delves into interesting areas but without, it seems, ever fully exploring their potential. There’s an Arabian feel to “Forest Sama’i”, for example, but just when it would make all the sense in the world for Kang to fully immerse himself in that Eastern style, things are reigned back in a little to progress in a manner far more predictable. Considering his career in the past it is surprising to hear how often this album does restrict itself to well-trodden paths all too familiar to Kang and his listeners. There is room on this album for more progression and Kang is undoubtedly talented, and I dare say brave, enough to go in that direction, just apparently not this time.
That said the compositional and musical dexterity and general excellence of this album cannot be placed in doubt. Kang’s gifts should still be celebrated for this is an album that has a heart and a soul beneath its gorgeous instrumentation, even if it sometimes seems to be doing its best to hide such a fact. “The Narrow Garden” is a pleasurable listening experience and I daresay that, given time, it will become a firm favourite of many. Somehow though it just feels a little lacking, perhaps a little unfinished and that’s a real shame.
“The Narrow Garden” is out now via Ipeac Recordings.
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