Any new guitar/piano record faces quite a high bar, doesn't it?

Undercurrent. Intermodulation. Together Again!!! These records feel almost impossible to follow. Most of us immediately think of them whenever a new guitar/piano duo comes along.

But this record faces an even higher one. It's an archival recording from 1988, and has nearly forty years of subsequent releases to be measured against.

I'm happy to say that Feebles, Fables, and Ferns delivers, leaving its less successful free-form moments aside.

Let's get one thing straight, though. This is not a breathtaking album. It doesn't break any new ground. But it contains some genuinely enjoyable playing.

What I know about this record

Feebles, Fables, and Ferns captures both artists in a private setting. Recorded in Fred Hersch's home studio in August 1988, it feels less like a planned recording session and more like two musicians meeting to play.

ECM describes it as a "rare one-time coming together", with no other documented duo recordings between them.

About the music

First things first, Feebles, Fables, and Ferns is not an easy listen.

With only guitar and piano, both instruments constantly compete for the same musical space. In moderation, that can be fascinating. Here, it occasionally becomes too busy, with both musicians talking over one another.

Luckily, most of the album unfolds at a relaxed pace. Neither player rushes, allowing ideas to develop naturally instead of constantly chasing the next one.

And there is some lovely playing here.

"Away 10/Amazing" becomes a beautiful ballad once the duo stops competing for attention. "Out of Nowhere" emerges almost from silence before developing into a wonderfully percussive piece. "Heartsong" opens with a lush melody that both musicians gradually expand into something really beautiful.

"Five Excursions", however, is a miss for me. It feels like a collection of improvised fragments played for their own sake rather than as a coherent piece. Halfway through, I couldn't wait for it to end and I've been skipping it ever since.

How does it sound?

The most important thing you need to know is this:

This is a headphone record.

The first time I played it through my main system, I couldn't connect with it at all. Once I switched to headphones, the music invited me in.

The recording has a natural, slightly muted tonal balance. The soundstage is intimate, which suits the duo perfectly. I also appreciate that the mix doesn't artificially hard-pan the players. The guitar sits to the right, while the piano stretches from the left towards the centre, creating a believable musical space.

Transients are quick without becoming clinical, and the recording remains pleasingly free from distracting performance noises.

Sonically, thumbs up from me.

Final notes

Feebles, Fables, and Ferns won't become my reference guitar/piano album. But it was probably never meant to.

It's a document of two musicians getting together to play, and judged on those terms, it succeeds.

Just remember to skip track four.