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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Junkmedia Review - An overlooked gem, February 21, 2003
It seems that every month or so a handful of Chicago musicians from different bands get together to record and release some jazzy collaborative affair. The sheer number of releases makes keeping up with this "scene" nearly impossible for all but the most diehard of fans. And though I like many of these releases when I hear them, these "super-group" couplings sometimes suffer from a lack of focus, and, as a result, devolve into self-congratulatory jam sessions. That can make for an engaging evening of live entertainment (or not), but it rarely translates to the recorded product. Thankfully, the ominous sounding Sinister Luck Ensemble, with a cast of Chicago top-cats, steers clear of this navel-gazing trap and instead has created a slow burning, cohesive work of haunting beauty. One of the reasons for this is that the compositions and arrangements were written beforehand by the same man, Charles Kim, who then asked his guests to stretch out and improvise within the boundaries of his compositions. Although you may have never heard his name before, there is a chance that you have heard Kim's guitar or violin on recordings by the Pinetop Seven and Boxhead Ensemble. And elements of these two bands are clearly present on Anniversary: from the dusty crackle of Pinetop Seven's prairie stylings to the Boxhead Ensemble's cinematic soundscapes. The combination creates the perfect twilight companion, whether you're on the porch or in the penthouse. The album opens with the short title track, which introduces the melodic motif that resurfaces throughout the album (tracks 6, 9, 12) and helps bind the differing pieces into a complimentary whole. Rob Mazurek's (Isotope 217, Chicago Underground) lonely cornet unfurls the melody over the unobtrusive base of Kent Kessler from the Vandermark 5. In less than a minute, loneliness, love and loss are conveyed to the listener; reminding one that an anniversary can be cause for both celebration and mourning, sometimes simultaneously. The rest of the album follows suit, mingling downcast funereal songs with fond remembrances of courtship waltzes or country drives at dusk. Perhaps the album's most sonically challenging track, "The Black Pool," shows off Kim's guitar work which bookends the piece with dark, rippling crescendos of reverberating guitar. In the middle section of the song, Ken Vandermark's bass clarinets cry over picked guitar, cello and the percussive rumble of Glenn Kotche (Wilco). Other standout tracks include "Spit in the Well" and "What Holds them Above," each showcasing Andrew Bird's aching violin work. The former is a sweet nostalgic waltz with cello providing an intimate counterpoint, while the latter is a more reflective piece that introduces another gorgeous melody that will continue to flit through your head for days afterward. "Deep Ellum" reminds one of the slower and more sincere moments of Calexico, with Kim's pedal steel and Robert Cruz's sad-eyed accordion making the listener so lonesome they could cry. The album closes perfectly with "This Will All Be Yours," where Cruz's accordion and Diana Pameter's cello reprise the motif from the opening track over delicately brushed drums and a couple of odd sonic loops. This song, as well as the others, is so musically rich and cinematically suggestive, that the only thing missing is the whirr and flicker of a projector. This appears to have been clear to others as well, since the CD also contains a short film by Jeff Economy that can be played on one's computer. The film is set to the third track, "Cakewalk," and features washed out footage of a lighthouse with storming seas in the foreground interspersed with a cement mixer on a snowy street. Words don't do it justice, but it is oddly moving when paired with the music. Sinister Luck Ensemble has created a subtle and moving album that celebrates the mournful magic of loss. The only truly sinister thing about it, is the way it bewitches your stereo and insinuates itself into your nights. Unfortunately, it seems doomed to be overlooked by many, so be sure to search it out before it disappears completely. Barin McGrath
Junkmedia Review
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by Sinister Luck Ensemble 
