Conrad Bauer Quartet/DDR, 'Round About Mittweida (side A)

'Round About Mittweida is an album of East German quartet improv from 1982. The most distinctive trait is the odd line-up—two guitars and two trombones. They're hard panned, with one of each instrument on each side. Some tracks are quite aggressive, while others leave more space—the trombones' particularly dense timbre shapes the dynamics. It's a pretty standard record of the idiom, with interesting playing. The abstract pink and gray cover painting is quite nice, though the conservative fonts don't really mesh with it. Jost Gebers's recording over-emphasizes presence, with the trombones sounding a bit brassy and the guitars a bit harsh—the fine performances come through nicely nonetheless.