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The ghost of Miles Davis (mid 1970s edition) hangs over much of the proceedings, thanks mainly to the
presence of Andy Knight's quicksilver, effects drenched trumpet; the opening title track is a slow burning slice
of dystopian funk laced with lysergic electronic touches and gurgling electric bass. 'In Rhythm' is a deep, funky,
juggernaut that doesn't really let up for much of its 7 minutes. Powered by Lascelle and Frank Byng's twin drum
attack (part Can, part James Brown), the track feels like a distant cousin to the Art Ensemble's 'Theme de Yoyo'.
Underpinned by fat globs of synth bass, the extraordinary Maggie Nicols riffs, chants and eventually lets rip with
a series of whoops and shrieks before the track fades out. Recorded by Primal Scream/My Bloody Valentine
engineer Brian O'Shaughnessy pretty much live in one room, it's an intense ride.
Elsewhere VBF hint at the airy, open spaces of early Weather Report or Joe Henderson's mid 70s dates for
Milestone - 'Sawalha' features Heliocentrics saxophonist James Arben's airy tenor tracing sweetly oblique
lines over a ticking afro-jazz percussive matrix. 'Ofilli' mashes up abstract electronic bursts and choppy organ
pileups over an urgent, punkish groove before collapsing into a delicate, free conversation between flute, tuned
percussion and bass. The shorter tracks are more abstract, personal affairs, flecked with Lascelles's trademark
percussive inventiveness and some squelchy electronic touches, like a more cosmically inclined Art Ensemble
of Chicago maybe, or Sun Ra crashing an Airto session with a malfunctioning moog under his arm. Stylophone
and even a broken zither make fleeting appearances. All gates are open.
Had everyone had warning of what to expect? "Opener" set the scene for those unsure newcomers. "Long Way Home" - an apt title: what a break. Idris wanders off leaving Leon, Emre and Satin to find the way... with a joyful reunion at the end.
The journeys continue through the rest of the show - Leon constantly providing that anchor around which the wonder this world - and, of course, Other Worlds - fly at their own pace.
You may know of Janek Gwizdala - if not Hidden Treasures gives hints. Peter Jones
Mind-bending jazz splendor from the powerhouse trio of saxophonist Jordan Smart, pianist Nick Smart, and drummer-tabla player Jesse Barrett. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 26, 2023