Best Ever Albums

Re: ALC#6: The Space In Which The Uncontrollable Unknown Resides

KitchenSink — Sat, 29 May 2021 19:29:53 GMT

Author: KitchenSink

Posted: 05/29/2021 23:29

conflicted about this one. obviously as everyone has pointed out this is extremely Pharoah Sanders inspired, which, in almost any case I can think of, is a good thing to be, but I almost feel like this takes it so far as to feel like just a less inspired, less engaging, and just generally less good Pharoah Sanders. Perhaps I need a couple more listens but for the time being I'm hearing very little here that carves out a unique identity beyond (admittedly extremely competent) idol worship. but, the critic doth protest too much or however that phrase goes because like you could pick a worse artist to emulate from head to toe than Pharoah Sanders lol, and tbph he's not the only influence here, and when they do branch out and draw on other Sanders-era contemporaries (Alice Coltrane in particular) I feel like things start to get a bit more interesting. I think a central issue I have might have something to with how restrained this compared to its influences, everything is very tight and precise but moments that evoke Pharoah & friends on an emotional level rather than a purely textual one are too few and far between for me. I may very well be missing something on listen #1, but as of now, while I did enjoy this, I'm struggling to enjoy it as much as I'd like to due to it never holding up to it's influences that it might just be influenced by a little too closely... eh I'll revisit this and return to the thread at some point, I feel like there's gotta be more here than just Pharoah Sanders fan fiction that I missed the first time around 🤣

Re: ALC#6: The Space In Which The Uncontrollable Unknown Resides

Hayden — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 10:20:38 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 03/14/2021 14:20

musicoed wrote:

A google translation for the name of a related jazz band would sound something like this – Steal Booze Jail.

Damn good name.

Re: ALC#6: The Space In Which The Uncontrollable Unknown Resides

kokkinos — Sun, 14 Mar 2021 06:43:14 GMT

Author: kokkinos

Posted: 03/14/2021 10:43

I was expecting you'd nominate something much heavier, so I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw this one - not that I'm any jazz aficionado whatsoever, but it's definitely much more accessible for me. Anyway, the Pharoah Sanders influence you guys keep bringing up is of course quite accurate, though it has to be said it's not that obvious or dominant to the point of overshadowing the individuality of this. I would say it might lack some of the intensity and spirituality of the forementioned artist, but it makes up for it by adding a more playful dimension - at least in parts. Also, the Dusk/Dawn idea works like a charm, they are diverse enough but at the same time feel like they belong to the same album, still haven't made up my mind which of the two I prefer. No complaints when it comes to length either, it's more or less ideal.

Re: ALC#6: The Space In Which The Uncontrollable Unknown Resides

musicoed — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 11:13:29 GMT

Author: musicoed

Posted: 03/13/2021 16:13

.

Re: ALC#6: The Space In Which The Uncontrollable Unknown Resides

RoundTheBend — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 01:02:06 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 03/10/2021 06:02

Yes, I'll have another.

Re: ALC#6: The Space In Which The Uncontrollable Unknown Resides

Repo — Tue, 9 Mar 2021 14:13:40 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 03/09/2021 19:13

Just fantastic! Sitting at my deck drinking a coffee while Tilly plays with our guinea pigs in the yard. The sun's out. School's out. Feels like Spring. Perfect music for a perfect day!

Will be squatting in my top ten for some time to come I imagine.

Re: ALC#6: The Space In Which The Uncontrollable Unknown Resides

Mercury — Tue, 9 Mar 2021 13:20:36 GMT

Author: Mercury

Posted: 03/09/2021 18:20

Just got around to listening to this. It’s great. I saw it on LedZep’s chart and had it on a shortlist of 2022 albums to hear. So that was finally done.

Just to be lazy, I’ll copy/paste my comment:

(Pharaoh Sanders-style spiritual jazz with 2 big, meaty pieces of transcendent beauty. Really solid album here.)

I wasn’t aware how much I craved some spiritual jazz to swim around in until I pushed play on this. I instantly was just in a better place as I listened.

The album itself is composed of 2 pieces, both about 16-17 minutes, called “Dusk” and “Dawn”.

To say this sounds Pharaoh Sanders would be an understatement, as it is clearly very similar to Sanders’ work. Of course that isn’t a bad thing, as Sanders is an absolute giant and his influence and style has influenced a myriad of artists. But if you are someone who for some reason feels personally offended if a modern artist wears their influences on their sleeves, then you’ll maybe be turned off by this fact.

At the same time, their is a vibrant, joyous, exploratory atmosphere that these musicians create that is their own. For example as the music of “Dusk” builds and shifts and crescendos from its breezy and blissful opening minutes to its clattering, more abstract avant-garde final phase, it’s clear that the musicians have gone into a different creative realm. It’s quite beautiful and inspired.

“Side 2” is a completely different vibe. “Dawn” doesn’t crescendo with a noisy clash of horns nor get particularly avant-garde, instead it is a more consistently uplifting feel and the vocal line/chant comes in and makes the whole thing just groove in a powerful and beautiful way.

I’m no expert on jazz, but I do love the spiritual jazz masters I’ve delved into such as Sanders and Alice and John Coltrane. This is a beautiful modern reimagining of that music. And it’s clear that there is a really beautiful jazz scene alive and prospering in England these days. I look forward to seeing where else it takes us.

————

Overall yeah this was a great choice for ALC! I need to circle back and listen to the last 2 because I don’t know I was just kinda meh the last couple weeks about most everything so never listened fully to leap second or that wonky album. This album though kinda woke me up. And it’s much appreciated.

Re: ALC#6: The Space In Which The Uncontrollable Unknown Resides

Hayden — Mon, 8 Mar 2021 13:50:22 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 03/08/2021 18:50

Aaaaayyy. I know this one. Easy rec.

Really seems to have taken off, which is great.

(Gives me a chance to catch up on last week's pick...)

Re: ALC#6: The Space In Which The Uncontrollable Unknown Resides

EyeKanFly — Mon, 8 Mar 2021 13:47:39 GMT

Author: EyeKanFly

Posted: 03/08/2021 18:47

Thanks for posting this one. I was considering it for when I'm up, but I'm sure something else worthy will be released between now and May (and if not, I have a fallback).

I really loved this album. It was sitting atop my 2021 list until I listened to the new Nick Cave last week.

Fantastic spiritual jams, clearly drawing influence from Pharaoh Sanders but also from the Coltranes and also a little Albert Ayler as well, while also putting a distinctly British spin on things. I don't really know how to describe "British spin" on jazz other than to check out other current British jazz musicians to get a sense of the difference between some of the current jazz scenes in the US. Work Money Death is from Leeds, and most of the great collaborative jazz efforts are coming out of London in the past few years, so there's certainly some differences between WMD and London artists like Shabaka Hutchings, Nubya Garcia, Moses Boyd, etc. Highly recommend checking out The Sorcerers as well, some of them (Neil Innes, Pete Williams) are on this Work Money Death album. Also don't get confused between this album and Tony Burkill's earlier "solo" album called Work Money Death which features many of the same musicians. Worth a spin as well.

Re: ALC#6: The Space In Which The Uncontrollable Unknown Resides

Repo — Mon, 8 Mar 2021 13:39:33 GMT

Author: Repo

Posted: 03/08/2021 18:39

oh, cool! I saw u & Hayden geeking out over this about a month but haven't had a chance to give it a proper listen. 😁

ALC#6: The Space In Which The Uncontrollable Unknown Resides

LedZep — Mon, 8 Mar 2021 12:30:12 GMT

Author: LedZep

Posted: 03/08/2021 17:30

Damn long album title, the full thing is "The Space In Which The Uncontrollable Unknown Resides, Can Be The Place From Which Creation Arises"

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

The Space In Which The Uncontrollable U...oney Death

Sounds Like: 2 long Pharoah Sanders style spiritual jazz jams, but it's surprisingly fresh and not a 1:1 copy.

Origin: Leeds, UK

This is everything you need in quarantine. Seriously. Uplifting, happy, fun but also ever so slightly melancholic jazz that you can put in the background or foreground and it sounds equally awesome. The harmonium gives the whole thing a distinct feeling, the compositions are eclectic and 99% of the time the band keeps the listener occupied. There's a lull here and there but never a serious issue that detracts your attention from all the good stuff that's going on.

The band is comprised of:
Tony Burkill (saxophone, band leader and main composer), Adam Fairhall (piano), Neil Innes (bass), Sam Hobbs (Percussion), Chris Dawkins (guitar), Pete Williams (percussion), Dan Edward (french horn), Matt Bourne (Harmonium), Rachel Modest (voice)

Special thanks to Hayden for suggesting this one, it's killer.