Non-Secure Connection

by Bruce Hornsby

Overview

It's hard not to see Non-Secure Connection as a companion piece to Absolute Zero, the 2019 album that marked Bruce Hornsby's first solo record in over 20 years. Non-Secure Connection follows Absolute Zero by a matter of months and it shares a similar adventurous sensibility. If anything, it capitalizes on Hornsby's restlessness, scaling back the lingering echoes of pop and Americana so the pianist can concentrate on jazz and electronica while allowing him the freedom to dabble in R&B. The latter arrives in the form of "Anything Can Happen," a suitably funky oldie Hornsby first attempted with Leon Russell back in the '90s. Russell joins a cast of supporting characters that includes Vernon Reid, Jamila Woods, and James Mercer, but it's the ghost of Justin Vernon that hangs over the album. It's not that Non-Secure Connection sounds like a Bon Iver album, per se, but the elastic electronic arrangements and pensive undertone do feel indebted to Hornsby's chief modern acolyte; after receiving the benediction of the indie tastemaker, the keyboardist has seized the freedom to do whatever. Such freedom may be limitless but it comes at a price -- namely, at the expense of clear melodies. Lyrical lines are here but they're elliptical, requiring the rapt attention of the listener, but hooks aren't the point of Non-Secure Connection. It's a moody puzzle box of an album, one that pays dividends with close listening but one that's also fine as evocative background music. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	08/14/2020
Label:	Zappo Productions
UPC:	0644216237869

Tracks

1. Cleopatra Drones
2. Time, The Thief
3. Non-Secure Connection
4. The Rat King
5. My Resolve
6. Bright Star Cast
7. Shit's Crazy out Here
8. Anything Can Happen
9. Porn Hour
10. No Limits

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bruce Hornsby   Primary Artist,Bass,Piano,Vocals,Cymbals,Sampling,Keyboards,Wurlitzer,Chamberlin,French Horn,Guitar (12 String),Guitar (12 String Electric)
Vernon Reid   Primary Artist,Guitar
James Mercer   Primary Artist,Vocals
Leon Russell   Primary Artist,Vocals
Jamila Woods   Primary Artist,Vocals
Wayne Pooley   Guitar (12 String)
Jeremy Ylvisaker   Guitar
Mike Lewis   Bass
Stephanie Matthews   Violin
Rob Moose   Viola,Violin,Strings
Erin Wight   Viola
Gibb Droll   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Chad Wright   Drums,Sampling
Sonny Emory   Drums
Justin Vernon   Featured Artist
Esther Noh   Violin
Jv Collier   Bass
Peter Rotter   Conductor
Bruce Coughlin   Orchestra
John "J.T." Thomas   Organ,Keyboards
Hideaki Aomori   Clarinet
Karen Ouzounian   Cello
John Mailander   Violin
JT Bates   Drums

Technical Credits

Wayne Pooley   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Paul Thomson   Composer
Rob Moose   String Arrangements
Bruce Hornsby   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Marc Allan   Management
Chad Wright   Engineer
Leon Russell   Composer
Justin Vernon   Producer
Huntley Miller   Mastering
Nick McCarthy   Composer
Kevin Monty   Management
Kathy Hornsby   Cover Art
Robert Hardy   Composer
Chip Dematteo   Composer,Art Direction
Brad Cook   Producer
Chris Messina   Engineer
Alexander Paul Kapranos Huntley   Composer
Terry Greene   Piano Technician
Will Maclellan   Engineer