Duets sees Kes – aka Melbourne based guitarist Karl Scullin – teaming up with a raft of musicians one at a time resulting in the 16 duet pieces that constitute this record.
Known most recently for his guitar work with Sydney/Melbourne trio Bushwalking, Scullin has also released work with Kes Trio and Kes Band and as evidenced by the fine array of musical partners he is joined by on this album, he is highly regarded as a talented and innovative artist.
Duets, a beautiful collection of instrumental tracks, will perpetuate such opinions and deserves to garner Scullin wider recognition.
After opening with the bright folk tune ‘Pumphog And The Parrot’ (featuring Yuko Kono), Kes is joined by Oliver Mann on the second track ‘Hopper And The Crow.’
Arguably the best composition on the album, it pairs Scullin’s classical guitar sound with Mann’s haunting harmonica-playing to create a shimmering, emotive piece.
Another highlight comes in the form of ‘Seventeen And One,’ which sees Scullin playing over a distorted guitar cacophony created by Justin Fuller, while on ‘Cat And The Nightjar’ the musician shows his versatility, providing a piano accompaniment as he is joined by Kono once more.
These pieces are standout moments on Duets, however the record offers more than the sum of its parts, guiding the listener through something of a narrative journey.
Having such a large number of different artists involved in the album could easily lead to a disjointed feel, but Kes’ remarkable compositions flow smoothly into one another to create a holistic and moving record.
