Customer Reviews

Ego

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My copy of "Ego" is an old tape of a tape, from the salad (i.e., the sort of salad Rolo tossed on "Sanford and Son")days of college . Quality of recording, in this case, doesn't matter. Tony Williams's fantastic (faithful to the definition: "fantasy-like") music is a singular human accomplishment. All the songs blend into the other, so the album reveals itself (after a couple of good listens)to be the uncanny audio-reel testimony of a disembodied emotion, submitted to the court of our human consciousness; or a jury of feelings, who admonish the televison crews: "I love you more when you're doubtful"; or a 3:33AM seismographic hi-fi studio session with apparitions kissing their invisible aortas during the darker moments of lunar eclipse. The case, dear folk, is imperative: dig it.

Not the indispensible listening experience that "Emergency" was, but an interesting record. Tony follows his muse to the utmost and comes up with some very strange music. It's characterized by multiple layers of percussion and almost amateurish guitar parts, and by Larry Young's sympathetic organ. I don't really like the music, and I think the beats tend to cut against the heatbeat in some unfriendly way. But it is an interesting record and some of Tony's drumming is amazing (particularly the blizzard of percussion on "The Urchins of Simese").

Going for the 'classic' TWL records, 'Emergency' and 'Turn it over', featuring John Mc Laughlin, it initially took a long time before I got myself this more obscure 1971 release - but WOW! I was blown away more and more as I took in the record. It sounds fresh, experimental, exciting. Especially 'side 2' is a monument of genius, with Tony and Larry doing it all superb, not needing John...

'Lonesome Wells' is one of the best progressive songs ever recorded.