Reviewed: 2018-04-10
Genre: Jazz (X)
FCCs: none
Review: This disc features two intense tracks of 20-plus minute vast sonic tapestries - “Eye Muddle” and “Soften the Blow” – each spontaneous group compositions that belie the fact that only a trio is weaving them, with live electronics by Torn and Smith expanding the aural envelope. The third track, the Torn composition “Spartan, Before It Hit,” showcases an extended ensemble with two extra guitars, keyboards and a string quartet; it’s an otherworldly creation, ranging from hovering atmospherics to dark-hued lyricism to storming, sky-rending grandeur. “This is dangerous music – at times angry, at others blissed-out and illuminating – with its thunderous rumblings… delivering not so much a wash of sound, more a tidal wave.” – London Jazz
If You Like: Terje Rypdal, Henry Kaiser, Jan Garbarek, David S. Ware, Nana Vasconcelos, Andrew Cyrille
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
**1/ Eye Meddle (23:55) - high-pitched quiet drone starts> midtempo space jam with abstract percussion & weaving sax> sax solo soars wild into the high registers> guitar solo> uptempo space jam increases in volume & tempo> rocking fast space jam> rocking guitar solo> fast space jam> slow fade
*2/ Spartan, Before It Hit (22:10) – quiet electronic drone starts> slow jam slowly builds in volume & intensity with new instruments added to the mix, kind of an electronic orchestral tribal space jam> sax solo morphs into heavy slow space jam> mellows slightly > slow fade
*3/ Soften The Blow (22:50) – pulsing electronics start> slow space jam with whirling electronics> slow space jam with shifting instrumentation> sax solo so swirling electronics> slow space jam builds in volume, intensity, & frenzy to a crescendo, then mellows> slow build in volume & intensity> slows to fade

David Torn Electric Guitar, Live Looping, Electronics
Tim Berne Alto Saxophone
Ches Smith Drums, Electronics, Tanbou