Have you ever heard an album of trumpet and e-zither? For more than ten years Lorenz Raab and Christof Dienz have been playing shows together irregularly. In 2008 they released an EP with four mostly improvised, live-recorded pieces. Around two years ago they decided to record their first studio album as a duo. They placed just as much importance on thorough elaboration of their compositions as on the joy in improvisations. The pieces on Vast Potential surprise with a richness in tonal colors, which results from clever use of electronic effects and loop station. In the first piece of the album, "Perlentaucher" [Pearler], Dienz already transcends the original sound of the zither into the ethereal and weaves a fine rhythmic fabric that supports the lyrical melodies of the trumpet. A brief, chorus-resembling phrase and a short passage in unison reinforce the song-like character of the composition. In the following "Vast Potential" the zither buzzes like an Indian tanpura, grounded by long bass notes. Shortly thereafter the piece changes to more rhythmic movement and pointedly placed single notes, a funky bass line and light beats form a groove that inspires dancing motifs from Raab's trumpet.
