ZODOS by Álvaro Domene & Álvaro Pérez

STREAM/DOWNLOAD/PURCHASE here: https://ilusorecords.bandcamp.com/album/zodos


Iluso Records is delighted to be presenting the first duo recording by Madrid based alto saxophonist-composer Álvaro Pérez and New York based guitarist-composer Álvaro Domene.

On “Zodos”, their first recording together since Zöbik-3’s 2013 debut, longtime collaborators Pérez and Domene present an original collaborative repertoire of exploratory creative music for alto saxophone and seven string electric guitar which delves into and beyond the wide spectrum of functions and textures that these two instruments can adopt individually and with each other.

Their chamber-like, and mostly algorithmic, compositional structures are perfect vehicles that assist in catalysing their telepathic interplay during improvisatory passages, which are filled with highly detailed contrapuntal statements, rhythmic propulsion, and a crystalline elegance that this well recorded session makes salient. There is a certain level of eeriness and menacing tension that permeates throughout the entire recording, giving it a solid sense of cohesiveness, direction, and personality.

The duo brings virtuosity to the sensitive requirements of this remarkably labyrinthine music, which calls for deep instrumental dexterity and an acute awareness for leveling out all of the components of their language to generate a singular aural result that, often times, feels as if it had a three-dimensional tactile element to it.

The six pieces that form "Zodos" reveal two performers in peak form, each of whom displays his abilities to the fullest, at the vanguard of repertoire development for this particular instrumentation.

Play loud and enjoy.


***** "Emotionally intellectualised we could perhaps call the music we are listening to tonight, here in Tercera Vía. A music that breaks your patterns and blows your mind away, a music that will not leave anyone indifferent, and that is based on a dialogue absolutely free of constraints between the alto saxophone and the guitar, between Álvaro Pérez and Álvaro Domene.

It is an album that really is a, we have already said it, but we must repeat it and emphasize it, it is a challenge for the listener, but once one accepts this challenge, to listen, to understand, to enjoy this music, the truth is that the resulting reward is tremendously considerable. Zodos presents an imagery that really escapes categorization.

This album really deserves to be given an enormous amount of attention, because it is a challenge for the mind as well as for the heart." - JM Sebastián, RTVE, Spain.



"Estadio fractal, visual abstracto, ocupando área orgánica, inquietante.
Sonido visual acuático, geométrico, ondulante, punzante.
Secuencias desgarradoras que neutralizan, pero después no eres igual, por lo que se produce una alta frecuencia en progresión gradual en el plano mental.
Fuera, en la estratosfera, de la nada las incógnitas que no hay que resolver, lo demás se desvanece. Sin sentimiento de invasión, sí penetrante.
Ejecución impecable, exclusiva, de difícil versión."
- Teresa Catalina


"Emocionalmente intelectualizada podríamos llamar quizá a la música que estamos escuchando esta noche, aquí en Tercera Vía. Una música que te rompe los esquemas y la cabeza, una música que es complicado que deje indiferente a nadie, y que entiendo que está basada en un diálogo absolutamente libre de ataduras entre el saxofón alto y la guitarra, entre Álvaro Pérez y Álvaro Domene.

Es un disco que realmente es un, ya lo hemos dicho, pero debemos de repetirlo y destacarlo, es un desafío para el oyente, pero una vez que uno acepta este reto, de escuchar, de entender, de disfrutar de esta música, la verdad es que la recompensa estética es más que considerable. Zodos presenta un imaginario que realmente escapa de categorizaciones, de etiquetas.

Este disco realmente merece que se le preste una atención desmedida, porque es un desafío tanto para la mente como para el corazón." - JM Sebastián, La Tercera Vía, RTVE.


WATCH PERFORMANCE VIDEO FOR "Fractal Structure I": www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL9ch6iicos

WATCH FRACTAL VIDEO FOR "Z:I SONATA": www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4o1ayWEiOg

Guitarist • Composer • Producer

"Total facemelt music. Just what I needed today.“ – Nate Chinen

“Domene sounds like a frightful demolition team.” – Paul Acquaro

“Domene has his own voice that is both in your face and laden with subtleties.” – Mike Borella

alvarodomene.com