xam duo: s/t

XAM Duo is the new outfit formed by Matthew Benn of Hookworms and Christopher Duffin of Deadwall. This self-titled release is six tracks of improvised ambient beauty - both meditative and peaceful, it is astral jazz with an experimental kosmische undercurrent; modular synths meet saxophones; Cluster meets Terry Riley; Laurie Spiegel meets Pharoah Sanders. XAM Duo is a warm, immersive record that rewards repeat listens. XAM was originally Matthew's solo project. He recorded a number of tracks at home between Hookworms albums in 2014 which were released in 2015 as the Tone Systems EP on Deep Distance. Christopher says he approaches each song as a "mini-soundtrack to an imaginary film" and reveals that, while he was practicing at home, he played along to clips of There Will Be Blood (2007), Mulholland Drive (2001) and Synecdoche, New York (2008) to get the requisite atmosphere. "I appreciate that improvised music isn't for everyone, but it's something I love doing," Matthew concludes. "And, more often than not, Chris and I create something beautiful together."