Double Image - In Lands I Never Saw (1986)

Gorgeous, crystalline autumnal chimes from Double Image, in their third album.  By this time, the group that had formed in the 70s as a quartet with bass and drums (and recorded a rare, unreissued ECM LP in 1979) had slimmed down to just vibraphonist David Friedman and marimba player David Samuels.  The duo swap their instruments round on the track Dusk here, but otherwise stick to their stations for a wonderful record, that appropriately came out on Celestial Harmonies.

The pure sound of just the core instruments makes for a beautifully meditative album experience, only really raising the tempo on the opening title track and on Ki.  Everything interlocks with effortless virutosity, but never sacrificing melody.  Difficult to pick a favourite, but if I had to would be the late highlight Desert Rounds.  The eerie percussion added to Woodbell also makes it a memorable album closer.

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Previously posted on SGTG: Skylight, feat. David Samuels