The Harmless Dust - David Grubbs

David Grubbs and Nikos Veliotis recorded The Harmless Dust at Soma Electronic Music Studios while in the midst of a tour of the United States and Canada. So it is not a one-shot meeting, but the document of a musical relationship actively at work at the time. Released on CD, it seems it first was conceived for an LP release, as it consists of two side-long tracks with a 30-second pause between them. Both pieces are quiet drones extending to the listener an invitation to pay attention, explore, lose himself or herself, refocus, and get lost again. "The Harmless Dust, Pt. 1" (17 minutes) features Grubbs delicately placing piano chords over Veliotis' cello drone. It is a gentle piece, the tender piano smoothing out the occasionally rough edges of the cello. One is immediately reminded of Arborvitae, Grubbs' collaboration with Loren MazzaCane Connors, where he played a somewhat similar role in a few pieces. "The Harmless Dust, Pt. 2" (24 minutes) offers a different sound palette. Here, Veliotis is applying an E-Bow to the strings of the piano, the ensuing resonance conjuring up ethereal tones that mesh and interact with the chords Grubbs is holding on a Hammond organ. This piece could almost be mistaken for an electronic work by some forgotten minimalist composer of the '60s, if it were not for its unlikely warmth. It still makes for a more demanding listen than the first piece and there is no doubt that, as a whole, The Harmless Dust will appeal only to the contemplative kind. ~ François Couture, All Music Guide