Something Else! Playing with Tunes

blawless · June-27th-2003, 05:47 PM

Something Else! Playing with Tunes (Simon H. Fell, bass, Mick Beck, tenor, Paul Hession, drums)

I've been spending a lot of time with this lately, but it's not new, either to me or the world. And I really can't top the descriptions of this on the Bruce's Fingers website by the likes of Jon Morgan. Anyhoo, I haven't seen it mentioned here so thought I'd give it some due. Are you enamored of the big, cavernously textured rhythm section of Msrs. Paul Hession and Simon H. Fell? (If you know them, chances are: yes.) And are you perhaps a likewise sucker for hot squalls of saxophone noise-the sort that's still musical, of course? (Paging Mr. Reynolds... The reference points I have in mind are Brotzmann, Gush, Dunmall (think ghostly thoughts), Wally Shoup, and of course, Hession/Wilkinson/Fell--the name "Something Else" is to differentiate this trio with that more established one.) Well then. I can't speak highly enough of this album, which is live recordings during a European tour but has a fantastically spare ambience that lets the meaty fullness of the band rocket to the fore. As if making their take on a tour diary, they've also interspersed their performances with bits of local color--so there's a naïve-sounding Spanish brass band for a few minutes on track one (followed by a HUGE sound of fireworks booming-mixed in with/followed by Mick Beck's meanderings and gearings up with the rest of the band), bells from a steeple, ships blowing horns off the shore, that kind of thing. There's playfulness of this sort, and then there's the odd but extremely effective segues on two of the longer pieces into full-out, trad-jazz swinging. It's parodic, but it's also sincere. If from the preceding you haven't so far gotten a sense of the band's "straight" sound, it's a loose, very volatile free jazz, heavily leaning on the very loud, pummeling traincrashings of Fell and Hession, with Beck swooping in and throwing out blistering multiphonics and writhing gloriously in the soundscape. Very sensous! And completely complete: it's spare and dry--dare I say delicate?--one minute, then fraught, overwrought, the next, with all the available space used wisely. I'm impressed by the unusual mightiness of this trio and its deep instinctiveness: they seem able to assimilate any passing noise they make on their instruments and then seamlessly consolidate it into the whole, with plenty of smart meta-commentary to boot (this is a strength of Fell's especially, who's great at echoing the others using his bass as a highly advanced palette of every kind of squeaky, percussiony sound you can imagine). It's simply really good, if I haven't conveyed that yet.

Jon Abbey · August-15th-2003, 11:22 PM

nice review, shame you've seemed to largely stick to oblique meta-commentary yourself ever since. I'd be curious to hear your reaction to Duos for Doris, assuming you managed to get past the shrinkwrap at some point.

I think Fell's a genius on the level of Braxton, unbelievable range. he told me in May that he'd be in touch again if he started working again along the lines he knows I'm interested in, and I hope that happens.

Captain Hate · August-16th-2003, 08:15 PM

Why don't you two quit your grousing and give me some Simon H. Fell recs; I've already got Composition 30 so I'm aware of its excellence. It seems like all of his releases get good reviews in Cadence, but surely some strike you as significantly better than others. So let's hear it!!

Jon Abbey · August-16th-2003, 08:24 PM

it depends what aspect of Mr. Fell's work you're interested in, Cap'n. the blow their heads off trio of Wilkinson/Hession/Fell is pretty great at what they do. the VHF disc I put out as Erst 001 is impeccably recorded, minutely detailed, chamber improv, as is IST-Ghost Notes. 13 Rectangles is more sophisticated compositions. anyway, on and on, it depends what you're looking for. take a look at the Bruce's Fingers web site, maybe that'll narrow it down for you:

http://www.brucesfingers.co.uk/

Sergio Zamora · August-16th-2003, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Captain Hate
Why don't you two quit your grousing and give me some Simon H. Fell recs; I've already got Composition 30 so I'm aware of its excellence. It seems like all of his releases get good reviews in Cadence, but surely some strike you as significantly better than others. So let's hear it!!

Foom Foom, baby! Yeah!

And I'll second Jon's recs of VHF and IST's 'Ghost Notes'

Also very worthy and very enjoyable is Kalideizkozyklen. An orchestral joint that goes from thunderous modern classical to free improv to swingin' free jazz.

Captain Hate · August-16th-2003, 10:28 PM

Thanks guys; I'm on it.

blawless · August-17th-2003, 09:45 AM

Quote:

nice review, shame you've seemed to largely stick to oblique meta-commentary yourself ever since. I'd be curious to hear your reaction to Duos for Doris, assuming you managed to get past the shrinkwrap at some point.

Hey! A gratuitous snipe from Jon Abbey! Fellas, I feel like I've arrived.

Jon Abbey · August-17th-2003, 10:18 AM

not a snipe, I liked this review and just wish you'd spend more of your time here writing about music you cared about. very few people on this site do that in any sort of interesting way, and the less that do, the less interesting this place is for me.

so, more towards a backhanded compliment than a snipe, plus I resuscitated your thread which had been previously ignored.

blawless · August-17th-2003, 10:59 AM

I had a perfect record of zero responses until you came along and wrecked it. Thanks a lot, "friend"!

Duos for Doris, Duos for Doris... Oh yeah, the yellow one! I'm sure I liked it. Time permitting, I'll probably also get in line to bow my tribute.