German touch guitarist/bassist MARKUS REUTER is an experimental musician of some note, with a lengthy catalog of records, solo, collaborative and with the band CENTROZOON. BLLD pairs him with the likeminded 05RIC (RIC BEYERS to his family), who also taps extended frets, as well as playing the drums and singing in a mellifluous croon. Though the pair favors polyrhythms and sharp keys, there’s little cacophony here. Deep basslines and ambient synth washes anchor the busy drumming and sinuous lead lines; 05ric sings across the arrangements like DAVID SYLVIAN collaborating with one of KING CRIMSON‘s PROJEKCTS. There’s a strong sense of exploration here, as if the duo ran into each other at the studio and decided to kill time until the producer arrived. As such, Materia Prima lasts only 20 minutes, just long enough to peak your interest but not long enough to get on your nerves.
