Air Song - Air

[Captain Hate]

I'm not in the habit of making a big deal out of most reissues because, well, the older I get the less interesting they become. But this is an exception; a very great exception. I remember when I got this on vinyl; I'd heard so much about how the crits were falling all over themselves in describing their live performances but the Arista recordings at that point (pre Air Lore) just weren't giving me any insight into that. Not that they weren't ultimately extremely satisfying once I figured out wtf they were talking about, but I was a raw noob at this point and I NEEDED MORE!!! So Mrs Hate was taking a mini-vacation to see her family (ironically in Chicago) and I decided to treat myself to the WhyNot import of this (the current catalog said this was available in 1975 on India Navigation but, if that's so, it must've gone OOP within nanoseconds, although I think it ultimately showed up in the mid to late 80s, along with Air Raid, on that label) which gave me a quick heads-up on how much cds would ultimately cost.

Anyway, I took it home on a hot summer evening, popped open a beer and heard a sure-fire deserted island recording that definitively answered what the group was all about. Side 1 (hard to get out of the vinyl mode) is a masterpiece, starting with "Untitled Song", a loping song featuring Threadgill on tenor (the four songs each feature him on a different instrument, either coincidentally or by plan; not that it matters) playing a slightly sinister motif over a martial beat by McCall that eventually loosens up as it speeds up, propelled by Hopkins hugely elastic sound from strings that could slingshot the earth across the Milky Way. Threadgill drops out as the rhythm duo engage in some rollin' and tumblin' before he rejoins at a breakneck pace that bears no resemblance to where he left off; no problem because he's up to speed immediately as McCall drops accent bombs left and right that are always perfectly placed (even though I hadn't heard this in well over a decade I anticipated exactly where they were) until it reaches a climax and BOOM, back to the initial theme which slowly fades to nothingness. The following far-from-untitled "Great Body of the Riddle or Where Were the Dodge Boys When My Clay Started to Slide" features Threadgill on baritone and he gives me a preview of what to expect from Mats as he wrenches ungodly sounds out of it attempting to break loose of the slow beat, but Hopkins and McCall aren't having any of it; they keep him well in tow as he wails away before fading out. Then Hopkins takes over in a bass solo that opened my eyes to how a solo could be constructed sans pyrotechnics yet still keeping you completely focused on finding out what comes next. Threadgill rejoins stating the intial theme and this time it's McCall that tries to break out into a frenzy but Henry and Fred aren't having any part of it and the song quietly closes in a masterpiece of understated dynamics.

The final two songs, to me, don't measure up to the level of side one but they're still very good. "Dance of the Beast" is a frenzied alto workout by Threadgill and the closing title song features the ethereal flute and brushes approach that was a staple of the group. I think the first two songs give an early hint of what Threadgill was capable of in later recordings; again, a big "Fuck You" to the robber barons at Sony for not releasing any of his large group stuff which is stunning. Idiots

Anyway I guess this isn't for everybody but it's hard for me to imagine any truly adventurous spirit not liking it. Let me put it this way: I have a neighbor who is brilliant as far as designing nanoparticles to transport cancer drugs. He heard me listening to music in my back yard and became interested; now I drag him to all of the rare improv concerts which he thoroughly enjoys. We get together every now and then to drink beer and listen to tunes. I try to tailor what I play him based on something that we'd heard previously. For example, after we heard Erik Friedlander I brought over the Masada String Trio double disc, which went over well and then on to the regular Masada. The following get-together I thought the ZFP Quartet's Ulrichsberg Munchen Musik would be a good choice, which it was, but then I followed it up with Air Song on a flyer. He demanded to hear the entire disc.

[Uli]

Originally Posted by Captain Hate

(the current catalog said this was available in 1975 on India Navigation but, .

I doubt that. My India Navigation has a © for India Navigation dated 82. The cover sez it was a reissue of the Why Not release.

[Captain Hate]

Yeah I was pretty sure that was a mistake since it was recorded in 75 and there used to be a pretty significant lag between recording and release dates in the pre-digital era. Speaking of digital, the transfer of the recording could've been better in that the volume level of cut 2 is significantly lower than cut 1; but that's a mere irritation rather than a reason not to get this.

[walto]

Nice post, Cap'n. Thanks.

[gnhrtg]

Thanks, Captain, for sharing your thoughts & enthusiasm. Like some others here I do not need much convincing to pick up an Air album I do not have and having been too lazy to resubscribe to the newsletters of the usual suspects with my new e-mail address I did not know that this was reissued. I'll be sure to add it to my next order from wherever. I enjoyed reading your post & I'm glad to see you have not abandoned the place.

[Vince Kargatis]

For subscribers, it's on emusic.

[Alino]

Thank you for this beautiful post Captain.
I just had the Candid reissue of this cd a few days ago; heard it just twice but start enjoying it greatly as it raises in me memories of Air Lore, on of my favourite record ever. Threadgill on baritone is a new experience to me. I keep on thinking he must be one of the very few Saxophone Greats still living. A matter of sound, soul and originality; a master performer and composer.

[John L]

Thanks for the nice review, Captain. Air Song is one of my favorites as well, maybe even my favorite Air album.

[LutherBlissett]

Originally Posted by Alino

Thank you for this beautiful post Captain.
I just had the Candid reissue of this cd a few days ago; heard it just twice but start enjoying it greatly as it raises in me memories of Air Lore, on of my favourite record ever. Threadgill on baritone is a new experience to me. I keep on thinking he must be one of the very few Saxophone Greats still living. A matter of sound, soul and originality; a master performer and composer.

Such a pity Henry T never picked up his tenor or bari sax after Air, his alto is stll great, baritone seems like a natural doubling for alto players.

still if he still recorded on those horns , would rank higher as multi instrumentalist