Why Kai, Deep Fishing, Jazzland ****

This shouldn't work. It should just seem flakey. Dance music, huh? Except your scepticism could not be more wrong. And is it even that? Among heart-shaped leaves/the white fish gleams, red tail. Soft lotuses sleep. Ah the delights of koi (in the …

Published: 20 Aug 2021. Updated: 2 years.

This shouldn't work. It should just seem flakey. Dance music, huh? Except your scepticism could not be more wrong. And is it even that? Among heart-shaped leaves/the white fish gleams, red tail. Soft lotuses sleep. Ah the delights of koi (in the delightful haiku by Jennifer Wong). Hang on it's Kai not koi. Haven't a clue much about who this Norwegian fisherjazzer is except what I managed to glean from an interview with the secret eclectic website. As for who's the geezer as much as why on earth, step forward don't be coy Kai as in canny synth player and pianist Kai von der Lippe who tells the website perhaps not surprisingly ''I have a background in both electronic club music and acoustic jazz, and in this project I wanted to combine the two worlds.'' Perhaps more surprisingly given how completely contrasting Deep Fishing is he says ''in the period when I made this EP, I listened a lot to Christian Wallumrød Ensemble.''

That throws me. Clearly boogying to the ensemble or cocking an ear even didn't influence anything he did much given how austere an outfit the Wallumrøds can be. Perhaps his confessed liking in the same interview for the less preserved in aspic sound of Floating Points did filter through a bit more. In any case Deep Fishing is certainly refreshing and excellent, the EP rolls along mightily ('Wherever' has a cracking synth bassline) and does not sound plastic or paint-dryingly repetitive as so much of the idiom does. Prepare for a few surprises although these aren't contained in the impression of birdsong here on 'Futuma' (surely we need something resembling a warble quota on the plundering of birdsong?) but more the winning baroque sense on 'Crab' that Why Kai brings to the table like a tricorn-hatted TikTok tsar overseeing the thrum and pleasurable shudder of it all as he surveys the fall of civilisation and a desire instead to descend to the Mariana trench and preside over a few hapless sea cucumbers accompanied by a few beats instead.

Tags:

Nu Civilisation Orchestra and Colin Salmon to tour Marvin's What’s Going On

Nu Civilisation Orchestra are touring a jazz interpretation of What’s Going On themed around Marvin Gaye’s classic 1971 album beginning during October's Black History Month. Conducted by Peter Edwards, the NCO, recently in action playing Joe …

Published: 19 Aug 2021. Updated: 2 years.

Next post

nco2

Nu Civilisation Orchestra are touring a jazz interpretation of What’s Going On themed around Marvin Gaye’s classic 1971 album beginning during October's Black History Month. Conducted by Peter Edwards, the NCO, recently in action playing Joe Harriott material, have special guest the great film actor Colin Salmon joining the tour. Dates are: Brighton Dome, 30 October; St George's, Bristol, 12 November; QEH, London Jazz Festival, 18 Nov; Town Hall, Birmingham, 19 Nov; Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 24 Nov; and Colyer Fergusson Hall, Canterbury, 26 Nov.

Nu Civilisation Orchestra, main image and Peter Edwards above. Photos: marlbank