Pao

Pao (trio)

Pao (Shhpuma Records/Clean Feed; 2012)

Travassos (electronics)

Pedro Sousa (sax)

Tiago Sousa (keyboards, percussion)

A very interesting debut for Portuguese trio, Pao. This is a dark, experimental and at times almost spiritual session, that is more than the sum of its parts. Structured by three long pieces, Pao demonstrates an ability to both calm and intrigue through a series of improvised pieces that still remain distinct and linear.

Opening quietly with gentle chimes and eerie electronic scratches/manipulation and one tone sax chords, "Gods Wait To Do Delight In You" establishes the path in which you are about to take. There are drones and effects that are dense yet mystical. The slow climb is similar in vein to The Necks or even more recently DMP Trio. Closing out "Gods..." is P. Sousa's haunting sax and Travassos' undulating electronics which are weirdly soothing.

"Dyson Tree" for me, had an almost Sunday morning church call to it. The effects of T. Sousa's keyboard provides an organ like operatic sound. While Pedro and Travassos inject an Eastern element into the mix as the tune moves towards it's middle lyrics. Rich and creative soundscapes happen throughout.

The closing number is my favourite. "It Was All Downhill After The Sling" is rough, gritty and beauty all at once, containing improvised lines that make you feel like your listening to session with Sonic Youth. The patterns never get overly loud. Pao manages to find a way to deconstruct and reorganize in a way that resonates long after the piece is over.

Pao is an exciting and highly creative trio from the new and continually adventurous Portuguese scene that is well worth your investigation. Sometimes you like to use the phrase "this won't be everyone's cup of tea"--but every once in a while I think everyone needs to be jarred out of their seat. Go buy this record! Highly Recommended!

Plaistow: Lacrimosa

Plaistow (trio)

Lacrimosa (Insubordinations Netlabel; 2012)

Cyril Bondi (drums)

Johann Bourguenez (piano)

Raphael Ortis (bass)

Swiss trio, Plaistow have only been on the scene since 2007, but have slowly developed and crafted a style that has become more experimental and adventurous with each release. Starting in a post-bop style similar to E.S.T., RGG or Keith Jarrett Trio this trio have continually branched out. Plaistow's last album, The Crow set the tone for what would come today. A mixture of soft tones and forward thinking themes. In some ways you could liken it The Necks. But slightly different than their Australian counterparts, Plaistow add a bit of melody into the mix. Melodic but moving. 

On the bands fifth release, Lacrimosa, they have achieved a combination of existential bliss and infectious grooves. Plaistow exemplify this with the two lengthy tracks that make up this spellbinding document. The title track moves gently in a revolving pattern that is reminiscent of The Necks or Philip Glass solo. Bourguenez has displays a steady yet fast coordination at the piano. While Ortis' bass melds into the notes like a calm heartbeat. As the piece moves into its middle stages Bondi's drums become more apparent and the trio starts to build on a groove. And just when you think it's going in a more song structured direction,  the trio stop cold and return to an ambient pace and ride you out to the finale.

The second piece, "Cube" is more uptempo (so to speak) with Bondi and Ortis being the focal point in open chords. The notes of circular but present almost an indie rock feel to them. Bondi hits the kit with fury and Ortis becomes almost haunting in what feels like a deep two note plucking. Bourguenez joins in late on to add a tanscendent tone to the piece. Then "Cube" begins to get very experimental with Ortis and Bourguenez stretching and bending the sound barrier on their instruments with swirling psychedelic and eerie effects. The piece closes on the rock theme note in which it opened. Stellar to say the least.

Plaistow are really finding their voice and developing into a band with great ideas. If you haven't discovered them yet, now is the time. Lacrimosa is an album that should not be missed. And if you are in a European country, you must see them live (and let me know about it). I only wish I had the chance. 

Plaistow - Lacrimosa (Live In Strasbourg, 17 nov 2011) from Plaistow on Vimeo.

The Necks: Mindset

The Necks (group)

Mindset (ReR; 2011)

Chris Abrahams (piano)

Lloyd Swanton (bass)

Tony Buck (drums)

The Necks have been on the rise the last few years. The recent global tours and wider availability of their music has helped spread the news of one of the worlds best kept secrets. The trio have a very specific and unique blend of minimalism and improvisation that rises above both jazz and experimental music.

Sometimes hard to describe to friends, I try to get them to imagine, Cecil Taylor, Philip Glass, Charlie Haden and Billy Higgins locked in room to see what would evolve. Sometimes you can bring up the E.S.T. comparison but I have started to feel that the Swedish legends were actually only starting to reach the abstract heights The Necks have been creating for decades.

Built on two extended pieces, the new album, Mindset (ReR), continues their original aesthetic of slow building, highly intense, introspective pieces. But this time out there is more purpose and a heavy drive, with melodic and emotional moments that you can grab onto at various periods. The pieces settles into polar opposites - one of intense wrestle of spirit and body, the second an almost minimalist psychedelic journey through Stephen King's closet. 

"Rum Jungle" opens with a long, deep enveloping melody of all instruments at once. It's a wash of sound that become hypnotic and beautiful. Two thirds of the way through the trio turn on the atmospherics. Each instrument no longer sounds like what you think. "Rum Jungle" then rises to clattering conclusion. Like dropping off a cliff.

One of signatures to The Necks music--their ability to manipulate and create soundscapes that you thought weren't possible on these instruments. That becomes apparent on "Daylights." A piece which feels more like nighttime that morning lights. A gentle but encompassing number by which the listener is drawn in Eno or Aphex Twin-esque movements and free form crackles, plucking and other improvised expressions. "Daylights" seems to sit on top of a one note theme laid out beautifully midway through by Abrahmas. Later it does hit a sort of high gear towards the end before freezing to a close.

Mindset is surprisingly one of the shorter Necks albums in history but it still has all the elements of adventure and improvisation that make this trio one of the best forward thinking groups on scene today. Highly Recommended.

Misinterprotato...Your New Favourite Band!

Misinterprotato (group; formed 1999)

The Gentle War (Jazzhead Records)

Sean Foran (piano)

Pat Marchisella (bass)

John Parker (drums)

The piano trio has blossomed in the last ten years. But with each new group there are definitely distinctive qualities that make them all enjoyable and in some cases extremely fascinating. Misinterprotato are one of those fascinating trios. This Brisbane, Australia based group has been igniting the Australian scene for just over a decade. Their influences are definitely an amalgam of modern jazz, improvised thought and the excitement of a rock trio. 

I first got turned on to Misinterprotato as a result of my obsession with fellow Australians, The Necks. I wanted to find more interesting jazz bands from the country and...well... I found it.

While many people may only be aware of Australian trio The Necks, Misinterprotato occupy a completely different area from fellow countrymen who utilize more improvisation and dense space as part of their repertoire. Misinterprotato have developed over five albums into a highly creative and deeply thoughtful group. Their latest album, The Gentle War (Jazzhead) echos the subtle adventurousness of one of their earlier releases, Delay, but also combines the more crisp and well focused melody driven material of the last two albums, Variations and In Is In.

"The Gentle War" burns with intensity and a rolling groove laid out by Foran and Parker. But this is a group effort throughout. Marchisella joins in with a wonderful meditative solo that might make Charlie Haden proud. "Cute" is something you don't get from many trios of late, a sense of humour centered around some forceful playing. The group dig deep with the melody that moves swiftly but with a real command that is both shining and invigorating.

"Wrestle" is another thoughtful and compelling work that really highlights the well rounded ideas Misinterprotato put together. "Wrestle" moves with grace and beauty that is both ethereal and joyous all in one. "Not According To Plan" is the real triumph on The Gentle War and for me its my favourite track on the album. With mellow openings and very textured passages from Foran, this piece delivers on introspection in the best possible way. Marchisella and Parker move in larger during the final movement and give the piece more depth. A real treat for anyone listening.

The closing number "Time" is beautiful and atmospheric. It's extremely reminiscent of the Delay album which was mostly an improvised exploration and the perfect ending to a richly satisfying outing.

Comparisons to The Bad Plus, Keith Jarrett trio (Charlie Haden and Paul Motian) and even the great Esbjorn Svensson Trio are unavoidable but Misinterprotato do lay out their own path and clearly distinguish themselves from the those trios. I think if you use the aforementioned groups as your starting point, you will undoubtedly fall in love this Australian trio. Misinterprotato has created one of the best trio records so far this year with The Gentle War and I urge you to take the journey with them. Misinterprotato is your new favourite band.

The Necks: Another Live Download

The Necks Live Music

For those who missed out. Australian jazz minimalists played two phenomenal shows back in January of this year. The Necks and the venue the performed at The Issue Project released a free download of the one of the sets a few months ago. Just recently The Necks and Issue Project again release a set from the following night. This is again available as a Free NECKS LIVE Download. If you haven't checked out the necks before this is a good way to get into them for free. And then once you're hooked you can spend your weeks paycheck hunting down all their albums.

For more on The Necks check out the JazzWrap archives.

Supersilent

Supersilent (group; 1997)
Arve Henriksen (trumpet, electronics, drums)
Helge Sten (guitars, electronics)
Ståle Storløkken (keyboards)
Jarle Vespestad (drums)

Deconstructing everything we know about jazz, Norwegian band Supersilent have taken jazz and literally blown it apart and don't seem to want to put it back together. With elements of Miles early '70s fusion work, the dense introspection of Karlhienz Stockhausen and a true belief in "whatever happens on stage or in the studio, happens" improvisation, Supersilent has emerged as one of the most challenging and adventurous bands on the scene today.

Not unlike Australia's The Necks, Supersilent can start off a piece either with sheer cacophony or quiet beauty. Either way, the end results are quite mesmerizing. The band utilize a mixture of both acoustic and electronic instruments to create a densely pack world of soundscapes that would make Miles Davis proud. The band functions as one without a real leader and almost never rehearsal session. There first three albums simply titled 1, 2 and 3 respectively, are packaged together and transmit the same theme of sparse, atmospheric, eclectic adventure. 2 does features some pieces with slightly more song structure or rhythmic patterns but for the most part the albums 1 - 3 are an excursion in sound but well worth the journey.

Album 4 sets a similar course to album 2 with what feels like nods to King Crimson in the way there is a full frontal assault on listener but you it is interesting to hear the subtle nuances through each piece. Albums 5 and 6 are quieter affairs, exploring more of an ambient path with keyboards and electronics more the focus for this outing. There are ethereal moments in which Henriksen's trumpet are audible making for nice transcendent arrangements. Fans of King Crimson, Spring Heel Jack, Jon Hassell, Seefeel and My Bloody Valentine might look to 6 as a nice starter.

Album 7 is actually a live DVD and is worth the money. I have since Supersilent twice and it is truly an experience in sound and order. Albums 8 and 9 maintain the ambient theme but you continue to get a great insight into the group dynamic. Everyone in the band handles electronics so its at times difficult to determine who's playing what but its more about the improvisation and emotional output of Supersilent that finding the individual characteristics.

Each member of the band has their own highly successful solo careers (Arve Henriksen recent release on ECM and Ståle Storløkken in collaboration with Thomas Stronen as Humcrush) when this band gets together to record or perform live it is truly an event. If your taste gravitate to rich, dense sound and experimentation than I highly recommend exploring Supersilent.

The Necks: Silverwater & New York Download

The Necks (group)
Silverwater (ReR)
Chris Abrahams (piano)
Lloyd Swanton (drums)
Tony Buck (bass)

Just over a month ago Australian jazz band, The Necks performed in Brooklyn, NY. JazzWrap were there and it was an amazing show. It was in support of the recent release Silverwater (ReR). It is just over an hour over aural bliss. Ironic considering that Silverwater is the location of the maximum prision outside of Sydney. But could also compliment the struggle of bliss and cacophony that one may face when left to your demons and angels. Silverwater features The Necks trademark slow building motifs surrounded by incidental atmospherics crafted from some very imaginative use of acoustic instruments.

The first 15 minutes revolve around the wonderful interplay between drummer, Lloyd Swanton and bassist, Tony Buck, as they set the rhythmic tone of the recording. Pianist, Chris Abrahams while plucking away gently in the background during the beginning of the piece, comes forefront around the 30 minute mark and band begin their surge into a hypnotic groove for the remainder of outing. The band even use some guitar textures throughout (I think).

Silverwater closes slowly with some intense percussion work from Buck. There is also the unique manipulation of piano and drums from Abrahams and Buck toward the end that constantly leaves me wondering how they manage to do that. The layer of instrumentation here is mystifying and makes for a wonderful sonic experience.

Silverwater is one of The Necks most fully realized studio albums and is the perfect follow up to accessible Chemist from 2006. For those with deep appreciation of the earlier work from The Orb and Brian Eno, The Necks are definitely something for you to check out.

If you are still on the fence (which I hope you aren''t) check out the FREE DOWNLOAD of the Brooklyn performance at the The Necks official site. Experience for yourself an unbelievable evening from one the best kept secrets in jazz. And then seek out Silverwater.