Maria Chavez, turntable and records (whole and shattered) at the ready. Photo credit: Dossier Journal.

Rarely does a passing ambulance siren complement perfectly the music it interrupts, but such was the case during Maria Chavez and Bonnie Jones’s gizmo-driven night at The Stone (Sep. 2). Chavez, perched at a wire-laden turntable, jams alongside Jones—attached to a similarly complicated set of switches and laptop devices—though “jam” may be a slight stretch of interpretation. The two are more precisely improvising sound engineers, scraping out static fizz and thumps with fixed-eye concentration. Hovering in limbo between long-term structure and immediate melodic harmony, neither of the two twenty minute tracks unfolds with a discernible pattern of musical climax or rhythmic cohesion. Chavez and Jones instead develop aural landscapes that wear hats of many puzzling sorts, all of which poignantly evade straightforward categorization.

"From Jones’ computer software and circuit board-type devices comes a necessary percussive element, propelling the pieces forward with an appealing rusty edginess."

A thick stack of whole and broken records provides backing sound material for both pieces; Chavez switches between records often, methodically placing and replacing bits of odd dialogue, distant and distorted rock music, and brewing metallic grinds. From Jones’ computer software and circuit board-type devices comes a necessary percussive element, propelling the pieces forward with an appealing rusty edginess. Though industrial and abrasive at times, the duo’s sound avoids heavy metal territory. Each piece instead progresses abstractly, renewing without reaching a steady rhythm or intuitive flow.

Chavez and Jones intermittently whittle down to lower volumes and let the city’s hustle seep through the small space’s walls, adding a fresh textural element to their recorded and computer-generated soundtrack. The play on “negative sound space” cleanses the aural palate in simultaneous keeping with the New Age, grungy feel.

Even during explosive, high-frequency cascades, the duo skillfully employs a hearty dose of balance to tame their easily overpowering, electronic craft. Though laden with multi-directional, often counteracting sound tangents, each piece unfolds with an inherent assuredness, firmly grounded in Chavez and Jones’ tactful approach.