Solo | Leader | Composer Discography
Wrack: …Awaits Silent Tristero’s ...
“…Wrack is currently supporting what might be its greatest achievement: . . .a four-part suite inspired by the novels of Thomas Pynchon. Bruckmann embeds fast-flying tropes and melodies from classic jazz in his shape-shifting compositions—a kind of nod to Pynchon’s referential gamesmanship—and Wrack negotiates the tricky tunes with its usual breathless precision, adding a satisfyingly off-kilter swing and infectious sense of fun that I’ve never heard from the ensemble before.” (Chicago Reader)
Technological Music Vol. 1 (2013) Entr’...
“. . . So if we read Technological Music as impressive mimicry or as high-level homage, either way we have to stop and ask: What’s the point? Haven’t we already hashed out this debate? . . . Bruckmann’s achievement is more than a stunt. It’s not just a love letter or a piss-take. . .” (Dusted Magazine)
Two Electronic Ephemera for Fidelity-Constrai...
“. . . unusually harsh outliers . . . oddly stuck in time, channeling a panicked late-Bush era Zeitgeist (the aetheric intrusions transmitted through my Z-vex pedal are, if I’m not mistaken, the ravings of a radio shock jock regarding Fidel Castro’s stepping down).” Lathe-cut 7″, ltd edition of 30.
On Procedural Grounds (2012) New World
“Any attempt to pin down Bay area musician Kyle Bruckmann is a study in futility. Here’s someone who jumps from collective improvisation to the skronk-rock of the group Lozenge to jagged compositional forms for improvisation with his group Wrack to electro-acoustic explorations with his duo EKG . . . ‘On Procedural Ground’ is a great place to hear how all of this comes together.” (Point of Departure)
Wrack: Cracked Refraction (2012) Porter
“The onetime Chicagoan started Wrack as a jazz-oriented project, but over time he’s come to focus more and more on jagged themes, unwieldy time signatures, and tricky pinpoint interplay (a la Anthony Braxton), all played with the postpunk energy of his old band Lozenge . . . Drummer Tim Daisy and bassist Anton Hatwich make for a whirlwind rhythm section, and when they buckle down and play hard they sometimes seem to splinter the front line with their momentum as they signal the rapid-fire shifts in Bruckmann’s knotty, episodic compositions.” (Chicago Reader)
Wrack: Intents & Purposes (2006) 482Musi...
“Bruckmann effortlessly occupies the space between jazz and classical music, generating movements of somber reflection one minute, turbulent intensity the next. From Morton Feldman-esque minimalism to Charles Ives-like bluster, Wrack has few equals. . . ” (Troy Collins, All About Jazz)
gasps & fissures (2004) 482Music
“Gasps & Fissures’s microscopic constructions are meticulously built from some of the music’s smallest bits. . . Bruckmann’s classical and jazz influences are stripped down and dissected, resulting in music that’s as much electronic as it is either of the aforementioned styles. . . Like a slide of single-celled organisms bursting to life under a microscope, this album finds flourishing life in the most unexpected of places.” (Adam Strohm, Dusted Magazine)
Wrack: s/t (2003) Red Toucan
“Bruckmann’s compositions are a carefully constructed balancing act between a written hybrid of jazz/classical motifs and improvised interplay. These seven compositions (with one non-original) emphasize a dark, reflective sound that thrives on dynamic variance… On Ornette Coleman’s “Lonely Woman”, the ensemble cuts to the core of the piece in perhaps the most breathtaking version of this song ever recorded (after Ornette, of course).” (Jay Collins, One Final Note)
and (2001) Musica Genera
“And is a collection of duets pitting his oboe, cor, suona (a Chinese double-reed instrument) and raita against the cream of Chicago improvisors. . . Where Bruckmann’s first album showcased his virtuoso playing, And reveals he’s just as capable of virtuoso listening.” (Dan Warburton, The Wire)
entymology (2000) barely auditable
“Entymology could have been only a curiosity, something exotic-sounding for the improv crowd, but it goes beyond that. It so happens Kyle Bruckmann is a seasoned improviser with impressive extended technique and peculiar artistic flair. . . Entymology is an enchanting experience that expands the possibilities (and the comprehension) of the double reed family. Strongly recommended.” (François Couture, All-Music Guide)