A cerebral listen this subtle and complex quartet album from UK sax star Trish Clowes has a punchy, circuitous momentum pushed on determinedly by drummer James Maddren with spiky piano accompaniment from Ross Stanley and guitarist Chris Montague. Clowes often reminds me of the witty and puckish method of Iain Ballamy and as she swoops and dives at the heart of her improvisations Ballamy again springs to mind which is no bad thing at all at the heart of the Clowes approach. There's no sentimentality here, more an urgency on the title track for instance but on the thoughtful 'Morning Song' Clowes also shows her mastery of space and time. My only caveat is that the compositions take a little too long to unravel but patient listeners will be rewarded once they eventually crack the always rewarding Clowes code.
Tags: