TONE BENT

Bill Horvitz, the male half of this mixed duo, is already known to me as a jazz guitarist. On the Bill Horvitz Band’s “Dust Devil” cd from 1997 he offers moderately experimental sounds within a familiar jazz context. He sounded much more experimental back in the late 1980’s, with music that sometimes reminded the listener of his colleague Derek Bailey: The record was titled “Solo Electric Guitar and Compositions for 11 Piece Ensemble”, and was quite wild in the conventional sense. Thus I was surprised to meet up with him again now singing with a female partner in this folk-oriented environment.

That reminds me immediately of another musical “wanderer among different worlds”, Bill Frisell. But while Frisell always put his own unique stamp on even his folk-oriented interpretations, Horvitz steers clear of any such tendency.

All song texts are published in the cd booklet; additionally, on the duo’s website one can find further background info on the individual titles, rounding out the production attractively.

This is clearly not the kind of singing one normally finds in vocal duos. Rather, we’re dealing here with an unusual kind of interweaving of distinct elements that produces a special kind of whole... The two voices each have their own strongly individualistic color. I’m at a loss for familiar comparisons, so my evaluative attempt here must remain tentative.

These vocal over-lappings go in quite a different direction in the second song, working well in a more conventional way. Instrumentally, Horvitz takes on the soloist’s role, as demonstrated by the strongly swing-oriented elements in the story of “Catman”. Catman want fish for his supper. Dogwoman want Catman stew. Dogwoman she don't mind waitin' - but Catman do. – Obviously whimsy is another strong element of this music, in the texts as well.

Somewhat like Leonard Cohen of old, Bill almost growls out the beginning of the third song, till he’s joined by Robin’s very differently-colored alto voice. Here again the unusual vocal combination stands out, bringing an almost “sacred” quality to the song – though what it describes is a hot summer day in the San Joaquin Valley. It’s a sweet song, evoking an evanescent, dreamy valley scene.

This rather dreamy, introverted mood is mostly maintained until we’re shocked out of our reverie by the knife-edged electric guitar of “Beware the Woman”. It’s a bizarre effect, evoking an atmosphere reminiscent of the good old West Coast back when Grace Slick and the Jefferson Airplane were calling the shots. For sure, this number calls up that Zeitgeist. It’s extraordinary, and I recommend a closer listening to the sometimes dark humor of the text, which clearly conjures up a conniving, possession-driven female.

Another unique track is “Rubies on the Boulevard”, also accompanied by e-guitar: a woman’s reminiscences of bygone love, wandering the evening streets of Paris. It’s a fine song full of expressiveness, the lilting, floating guitar solo appropriately filling out Eschner’s passionate vocal line.

The other offerings lean towards a ballad-like, folk orientation, often projecting a street-song character in their vignettes of the lives of people of all sorts, and of life in general – for example, of a woman retracing the steps of her Czech immigrant great-great-grandmother who left the old country in 1860 (“Pra Pra Babicka”).
- Rocktimes (Germany) by Wolfgang Giese

“Tone Bent is a duo consisting of Bill Horvitz on guitars and banjo and Robin Eschner on guitar, with both on lead vocals and harmonies. Say What You Will is a collection of their songs, slightly bluesy, slightly folksy and with a dash of country. The harmonies and vocals are reminiscent of the Handsome Family. There’s a lot of excellent finger picking with the guitars, and I can see Tone Bent appealing to the aficionados of acoustic American music, so do check out their website and sample their music.”
– John M. Peters, The Borderland, Musicwatch #14
- The Borderland, Musicwatch (UK)

Tone Bent is the name of the group that folk artists and singer-songwriters Robin Eschner and Bill Horvitz have selected for their musical project. With just acoustic guitars and banjo, this duo accompanies themselves through a selection of songs written in recent years by Robin Eschner, with two newer songs written by both, according to the copyright claim.
The oldest song on their album, "Say What You Will", is "Southern Sea Song" from 1999, and the most recent numbers are "The San Joaquin" about the valley Robin Eschner grew up in, and "And So It Is" from 2008. This is, moreover, the year the CD was recorded and was first released. So the international release now follows two years after the first edition and seeks to bring the music of this duo to a wider audience.
Robin Eschner and Bill Horvitz sing most songs together in duet form with harmony. Their voices fit together wonderfully. The songs are done in troubadour style, so pay extra attention to the lyrics describing love and intimate relationships, but also delivering occasional humorous twists and effects. In "Heading Home", written in 2006 to commemorate the death from cancer of Susan Butcher, a lady who, with her Arctic dogs, won the Iditarod Dog sled race in Alaska four times. "Pra Prababicka is a farewell song to a lady who traveled on the same train as her Czech grandmother about 150 years ago when she immigrated to Philadelphia.
After awhile, acoustic songs can get a little monotonous, but we find the sound of these songs to our liking. ToneBent is currently in the studio recording their second album, which they hope to release in the next year. When they are finished, they will hopefully get a copy to Rootstime for review
(Translated from Dutch)

“On their album ‘Say What You Want’ this folkduo ‘Tone Bent’ is presenting a selection of their songs written in the course of the last years. Their acoustic stories are sung in perfect vocal harmony and also demonstrate the songwriting talents of Robin Eschner and Bill Horvitz.” - Rootstime (Belgium)

“The title track, Say What You Will starts out a bit like Nilsson’s Coconut song. Then it moves into a lyrical folk style with strong male vocals and lyrical female vocals by Robin. Catman is the second song. It has a tiny Spanish influence with solid guitar. The San Joaquin is a sad sounding song with gentle guitar behind Bill’s aching vocals. This Little Apple begins with country bent then slides into a moderate folk mode. Heading Home is a very harmonic folk tune. For me, it was probably the best song on the album. Other very strong songs on the album are Rubies On the Boulevard, Blue Feather, and Pra Prababicka. I found Robin to be very lilting with her vocals. And Bill had some very strong vocals. And the music itself was eclectic enough that to call it strictly a folk album wouldn’t really do it justice. I’m not too sure how I’d define the album, but it is way more than a simple folk album.”
Bruce Von Stiers - BVS Reviews

"Say what you will, Americana is alive and well in the world of music these days and Tone Bent have come to reinforce the point. Sizzling guitar parts and harmonious vocal exchanges make Tone Bent’s “Say What You Will” a roaring ride through the heartland of human experience.

Built on earthy guitar parts that sometimes simmer with heat, these tracks are a collection of what is, what might have been, and what could be. Composed through lyrical compositions with a circular logic and a talent for storytelling, these tracks speak to the journey inside us all. Whether its dog races or carrier pigeons, these songs tell the story of the world. Whether its deep emotion and sweet sensibility, these songs beg to be heard with the incessant pounding of a heart.

Particular highlights on the record include the bluesy, retro-fitted “Catman,” the smooth, contemplative bliss of “Say What You Will,” and the ironic entanglement of “Blue Feather.” Furthermore, listeners in search of depth and clarity in the modern music industry couldn’t ask for more than songs like “And So It Is” and “This Little Apple." Serious talent combines with musical passion and a knack for craftspersonship in the new release by Tone Bent." - Metro Spirit, Augusta, Georgia by J. Edward Sumerau

"Great disc!!!!" — Wayne Winkler, WETS, Johnson City, TN - WETS, Johnson City, TN

Put together two people who love to sing, play, and write, and you may have a recipe for success. That is what Bill Horvitz and Robin Eschner are doing under the name Tone Bent, and Say What You Will (Big Door Prize).
If you are familiar with Horvitz, you’ll know that he is capable of going anywhere and everywhere with his guitar. Here he goes low-key with Eschner and goes acoustic, singing stories about peculiar people in town and perhaps throwing out hints of themselves in there too. Eschner at times shows hints of Tracey Amos, as if she had just left Rise Robots Rise and wanted to start a new thing. But it’s nothing but two guitars and voices, trading lines, harmonies, and ideas in a way that may seem folk-is because it’s acoustic but it’s more like diary entries for the ultra-curious.

Consider it along the lines of Warren Zevon mixed in with Kate Bush or David Gilmour if he was open to let it all out like his former bandmate. - The Run-Off Groove by John Book

"I heard Tone Bent the other night, and was completely delighted. I had already heard their CD, and that delighted me, too, but their presence added a complete new dimension. Great stories, warm audience interaction and a stellar collection of songs; not a clinker in the lot. Can a woman, a man and two guitars generate the makings of a first-class good time? They can. Can original songs be intelligent, funny and emotional at the same time? They can. And they are probably the first poet/musicians in history to ever rhyme "Tyranosaurus Rex" and "a bowl of Rice Chex." Hear Tone Bent. See Tone Bent. Simultaneously, if possible."
— Roland Jacopetti, Music Programmer, KRCB-FM, Santa Rosa CA
- KRCB, Santa Rosa, CA