Stereo Embers The Podcast 0431: Nels Cline (Wilco, The Consentrik Quartet)

“House Of Steam”

Putting it simply the L.A.-born Nels Cline’s resume’ is so deep, to quote Mark Eitzel, it “would make the ocean proud.” The guitarist and composer is one of the most respected names in the business and though he’s perhaps best known these days for being the guitarist of Wilco, let’s not single story Mr. Cline, because his body
of work is varied and extensive. Aside from his early jazz work with his twin brother Alex, he’s played with everyone from the Geraldine Fibbers to Mike Watt to Thurston Moore. But that doesn’t even scratch the surface. Cline has played on close to 200 albums in jazz, pop, rock, country, and experimental music. Let me give you a few of those 200 to play with: Yoko Ono, Henry Kaiser, Firehose, Wayne Kramer, Rickie Lee Jones, John Zorn, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Neil Finn, Lee Ranaldo and Chris Stamey. And belive me when I tell you that’s a heavily expurgated list. Over the years Cline has been in bands with his pal Mike Watt Floored By Four, band with his wife Yuka Honda of Cibo Matto and he’s had the Nels Cline Singers, the Nels Cline Trio, and the Nels Cline 4. Now comes The Consentrik Quartet, which is Cline along with saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, bassist Chirs Lightcap and drummer Tom Rainey. Improvisational, experimental and downright wonderful, the band’s
debut album is a profound blend of rich cycle grooves, unexpected rhythmic excursions, and subtle meter innovations. It’s marvelous work. Filled with delicate percussive brushes, virtuoso sax fills, prowling bass lines
idiosyncratic sax melodies and Cline’s nimble guitar lines moving through each composition with dextrous finesse, it’s hard to think of a richer listening experience in recent memory. It’s hard to think of a nicer guy as well–Nels
is a lovely fellow and now you get to meet him.

www.nelscline.com (http://www.nelscline.com)
www.bombshellradio.com (http://www.bombshellradio.com)
www.stereoembersmagazine.com (http://www.stereoembersmagazine.com)
www.alexgreenbooks.com (http://www.alexgreenbooks.com)

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