Published Date:
04 May 2009
By KENNY MATHIESON
LED BIB: SENSIBLE SHOES ****
CUNEIFORM, £15.70
THE London-based quartet serve up another full-on blast of the free-jazz-meets-punk-and-rock that has brought them much admiring attention in the last year or so.
They have found a new champion in the iconoclastic American label Cuneiform, and deliver a highly energised studio album that reflects their reputation for adventurous experiment, but also reveals a more reflective side of their work in the gentle Water Shortage, with its echo of one of John Surman's very English ballads.
The alternately lyrical and squalling alto saxophones of Chris Williams and Pete Grogan are supported by Toby McLaren's keyboards, and the bass and drums of Liran Donin and Mark Holub.
The latter has composed all but two tracks (those are by Williams, and include some Radiophonic Workshop-style noises on 2.4:1 (still equals none). It's perhaps not for those who like their jazz to swing and behave itself, but their boisterous explorations have their own powerful appeal.
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Last Updated:
04 May 2009 8:09 AM
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Source:
The Scotsman
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Location:
Edinburgh
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Related Topics:
album reviews
,
Jazz reviews
