Bee vs. Moth- Acronyms (2010)

Way back when on my best of 2010 list, I said I planned on posting this album soon. Suffice to say my definition of soon is a bit more loose than most's. I believe I described this album as "a multi-genre escapade based on a foundation of Latin jazz." That's about as well as I can describe it. It's all instrumental, featuring mainly horns of various sorts with a solid rhythm section and sometimes makes room for a guitar to sneak in. You never know quite what to anticipate from this album. A polka-sounding march can give way to an 80s guitar riff, and all the while it makes you want to sing "Babalu."

What not to expect from this album: A multi-genre masterpiece that seamlessly bridges various styles of music into a pleasing, perfect sound.

What to expect from this album: A silly mixture of sounds that will sometimes make you smile and sometimes make you scratch your head. But you'll be glad you listened to it, even if only to have the knowledge that it has, in fact, been listened to.


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Kayo Dot - Stained Glass (2010)

Avant-garde post-jazz metal experimentalists Kayo Dot have released their latest EP: a single 20-minute ambient track. It is, as described by the band themselves, "a long, floating, vibraphone-centric distortion cloud representing (musically) a Luciferian journey across colorful windows from left to right in a darkened cathedral." It is a spacey and atmospheric piece that reminds of me of The Pavilion of Dreams by Harold Budd more than anything. Both soothing and hypnotic.

Snaarj- Road Snacks (2010)

I don't know enough about jazz to be able to write a good review of this but I'll try. Snaarj are an avant-garde jazz band who are, well, pretty avant-garde. The first track, "Snuggles," is far from typical but it isn't the most experimental thing in the world. However, this is merely a charade that is dropped at the start of the next track, "Remember the Turtle," which opens up with a quick count off and then right into an explosion of saxophones and drums before giving way to a drum beat somewhat reminiscent of Brain Mantia. The saxophones re-enter with a stop and go rhythm that holds the honor of being the only jazz music that makes me want to headbang.

Snaarj are a four-piece group with alto sax, tenor sax, bass, and drums. They are clearly students of the game. The saxophone players do their best Coltrane impersonations by stretching the limits of their instruments until they're almost screaming in pain while the drummer sneaks some rock beats into the music while maintaining a jazzy syncopation. This is all over mostly chordal electric bass playing. Speaking of the bass, Snaarj's bassist is a related to none other than Victor Wooten. I'm not sure what the relation is exactly but I've heard he's his nephew.

As I said, I'm really not a jazz guy. I think these guys are amazing though. Maybe somebody who's more well-read in that area can tell me if they're as good as I think they are.

Bandcamp

I don't actually own this in any form so I can't upload it. But you can stream the whole thing here and buy it if you choose. The title track is available for free download.

MySpace | last.fm

Ketil Bjørnstad, David Darling, Jon Christensen & Terje Rypdal - The Sea (1994)

Bjornstad Darling Rypdal Christensen's 1994 recording The Sea is one of my favorite 2 albums coming out of ECM Records. It is one of my very favorite ambient jazz albums and as a matter of fact, one of my favorite albums, period. It is great music flowing through a very ambient background reminding at times of Gavin Bryars - Sinking Of Titanic. All instrumental parts are superb starting with Ketil Bjornstad's piano, through Terje Rypdal's guitars, David Darling's cello and ending with Jon Christensen's drums.

Sample


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