Daily jazz blog, Marlbank

Vega Trails, Tremors in the Static, Gondwana ****

Finally for today it's the full album of Tremors in the Static. The first question to address is: were the pre-release tracks the strongest of the album and they certainly were strong? Happily the remaining tracks are equally as good. And there's …

Published: 8 May 2022. Updated: 2 years.

Finally for today it's the full album of Tremors in the Static. The first question to address is: were the pre-release tracks the strongest of the album and they certainly were strong? Happily the remaining tracks are equally as good. And there's more a deepening understanding of the thinking exhibited by Milo Fitzpatrick and Jordan Smart when you spend extra time with these sounds.

An album full of single-line melodies, Smart doesn't play bebop changes and instead relies on emotion-laden often plangent melody whether on sax, flute or bass clarinet. You also obtain a better idea of the fact that this is really a strong duo affair and an intimate statement partly because of this.

The title track 'Tremors in the Static' kept to the end begins with a droney string-laden air of mystery and then lovely arco bass from Fitzpatrick pivoting to Garbarekian lines from Smart is a memorable way to end this debut. So, the singles did not flatter to deceive and this album, studded with Indo and spiritual touches, a head bobbing serenity and judicious use of electronics, is certainly one of the best albums heard by marlbank so far in 2022 and only goes to enhance even more the initial promise of this new sound.

It's a beautiful record glistening with insight and special moments and represents a brand new day for both these excellent players away from Portico Quartet who fell off our radar years ago and Mammal Hands. Listen and you might, otherwise jaded by the inanities, clichés, jazz cosplay and posturing of a lot of over-complacent approaches elsewhere, even be born again by this warm wind blowing in.

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Sun Ra Arkestra gigs coming up

Heads up for next week: the Sun Ra Arkestra led by the remarkable nonagenarian Marshall Allen are in residence at EartH in Dalston for three nights from Saturday. Click for tickets. Thanks for reading. Support marlbank by donating.

Published: 8 May 2022. Updated: 2 years.

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Heads up for next week: the Sun Ra Arkestra led by the remarkable nonagenarian Marshall Allen are in residence at EartH in Dalston for three nights from Saturday. Click for tickets.

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