Monthly Archives: January 2018

John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble – All Can Work

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

Twenty-one. That’s how many people play in this so-called “large ensemble”. This jazz orchestra is noticeable in many regards, but the most important of which is their musical output. All Can Work came out on January 26, and it represents over an hour of amazingly well put together modern jazz compositions that often remind me of some of the best prog rock out there. I’ve got to say this might be due to Theo Bleckmann’s voice, which is perhaps the most reassuring thing in this quite avant-garde environment. While the aim of the work here is … Read more

Kami Octet – Spring Party

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Words

We truly are well treated in this early 2018. So much great music has been knocking on my eardrums that it’s difficult to keep track. Although a late 2017 release, France’s Kami Octet, an avant-garde jazz eight-member ensemble, and their album Spring Party, was only just now heard by yours truly. The release is an adventurous and thorough experiment on contemporary jazz, sharing similarities with Fire! Orchestra and other such modern artists like Jaimie Branch. I’ve noticed the former mainly due to the vocal eccentricities of Christine Bertocchi, who at times recall moments of … Read more

Death Drag – Shifted

by Dæv Tremblay

The Sounds

The Words

Iluso has a great track record for providing us with some of the wildest, most adventurous jazz albums out there. I think I’ve become acquainted with the label through dMu’s Synaptic Self, which was a true revelation to me! Today, they’re back with Death Drag‘s debut album, Shifted.

Shifted is like a free jazz album built with the tools of noise metal. The trio consists of drummer and composer Mike Caratti, aided by Santiago Horro on heavily distorted bass guitar, Roberto Sassi on guitar, and Luke Barlow, who plays keyboards and Rhodes. Each … Read more

Weekly Release Dump

by Dæv Tremblay

Saturday, 20

1984 – Dystopia (blackened crust punk)

Monday, 22

Apophys – Devoratis (tech-death)

Tuesday, 23

Mehemeloth – – (blackened noise metal)

Thursday, 25

Death Drag – Shifted (avant-garde jazz/noise metal)

Friday, 26

Arsafes – The Silk Road Experience, Part 1 (progressive metal)

Bind Torture Kill – Viscères (post-hardcore/grindcore)

Centuries – The Lights of This Earth Are Blinding (post-hardcore/grindcore)

Howling Sycamore – Howling Sycamore (progressive metal)

In Vain – Currents (progressive death metal)

Iron Pike – II & I (sludge)

Mammoth Grinder – Cosmic Crypt (death metal/hardcore)

Monolithe – Nebula septem (atmospheric doom metal)

Orphaned Land – Unsung Prophets &

… Read more

Ouzo Bazooka – Songs from 1001 Nights

by Dæv Tremblay

The Music

The Thoughts

This sound is not brand new, not anymore. Last year, Aussie psychedelic rock band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard treated us with the first of five albums in a year: Flying Microtonal Banana. The album used quarter-tone instruments in the band’s own blend of surf, psych, and prog rock. Although the effort was a bit hit and miss, it was interesting and showed great potential for this sort of “desert surf” rock sound.

Enter Ouzo Bazooka, and their latest album, Songs from 1001 Nights. While not their first release, it seems to … Read more