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April 10th, 2006 by Jonathan Fletcher (Permalink)
Label: Treader Year: 2006 Add Comments |
Treader is one of the most exciting labels around at the moment, launching itself from an improvised music footing but truly straddling genres and constantly concocting all manner of exciting and fulfilling collaborations, bravely chucking technology, spontaneity and real-time acoustic playing by masters young and old into the pot. We will be showcasing this stable very shortly so we’ll dispense with biography for the time being.
Exquisitely packaged and sublimely played throughout, this is collaboration between veteran Afro-Danish Clarinettist and Alto Sax player Tchicai and Treader honchos (and former drum’n’bass experimentalists Spring Heel Jack) Ashley Wales and John Coxon (the Strings of the title) who play all manner of devices from guitar, piano and trumpet to bowls, cymbal and (vitally) samples. Featherlite percussionist Mark Sanders also puts in an appearance on 3 pieces.
Despite the experimental overtones of this music though, it is extremely accessible; soundscapes at their most sublime. ‘Lied’ begins with sampled strings and gently inquiring thoughtful blowing from Tchicai. As the orchestration become quietly skyscraping and Tchicai picks up a little pace some almost industrial-like hammerings join the fray but paradoxically the piece never loses its beautifully elegiac feel. ‘Test Piece 1’ is more spacious, with cymbal splashes, meandering Sax and minimal piano. ‘Hymn’ feels just like that, spiralling upwards with Tchicai keepng his rhythm in flux, sometimes plaintive and sometimes rapidly squalling over sporadic percussion, Wales’ trumpet (I think) and found sound buried deep in the mix.
What is so striking is the truly spiritual quality the players bring to this endeavour and the truly remarkable combination of electronic and acoustic. Titles like ‘Solemn’ and ‘Lullaby’ encapsulate the mood but this is really out there in a genre of its own- the product of extremely different sensibilities and backgrounds sacrificing egos for the moment. Jazz purists will probably hate it but these are new directions and fresh possibilities. Nothing is forced- it’s a perfect blend- a bitches brew after the storm has passed.
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