Tim Hodgkinson / Ken Hyder, Shams (side A)

Hodgkinson is of course the better-known half of this duo, from his work with groups like Henry Cow, the Work, and Konk Pak.  He's joined on 1986's Shams by the less-known Scottish percussionist Ken Hyder.  Hodgkinson works here in two areas typical of his playing—some parts feature clusters of tonally close notes on the clarinet, played in rapid succession.  Other sections find him exploring textures that intersect closely with Hyder's percussion palette.  Hyder uses a fairly conventional set of sounds from his drums, but his playing explores space with little attention to rhythm or meter.  The trashy and primitive live recording can make his kit sound strange at times on the record—it seems to color Hodgkinson's sounds less, perhaps because of the wide dynamics of a drum kit.  The cover image is tasteful and appropriate but not particularly special.