Matthew Shipp - Elastic Aspects (Thirsty Ear 2012)

Elastic Aspects was developed as a suite for trio, highlighting the telepathic interplay of bassist Michael Bisio and drummer Whit Dickey. It is given to vast complexities, spiked with moments of shear beauty against lightening transitions to polyphonic figures wrapped in a sonic voice that is both metaphysical and arresting. Whether it is a swing motif played inside the piano or his trademark cluster chords or a light as a feather touch barely kissing the keys, Shipp's range is effortlessly encyclopedic; probing the many energies of life.
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Other highlights include "Flow Chart," where Bisio's careering arco comes on like a caged animal fighting to escape the confines of Dickey's bursts of anchoring tattoo; "Raw Materials," which features a striking passage of chiming clarion notes from the leader bursting out of a courtly duet with Bisio's measured bass; the bassist's solo tour de force on "Rainforest"; and the final, episodic "Elastic Eye," revolving around a recurrent two note piano shout out. But even these peaks can be appreciated as just some of the standout episodes of a longer, richer whole. Shipp has waxed another winner. (JOHN SHARPE allmusic.com)