Customer Reviews

Flutter

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

 

 

This is as jazzy as I've heard Otomo Yoshihide get. Nevermind that a couple of the tracks are by Dolphy -- this reminds me more of Ornette Coleman circa 1968, passionate, dark, and challenging. Some other reviewer makes a glib remark to the effect of "What's that noise;" he's referring to Sachiko M. of Ground Zero, who provides a sine wave drone on a few of the compositions. Admittedly, the high pitched tones stand out a little too much on the first cut, seem more of a distraction than a compliment -- but I guess Otomo wasn't fully prepared to leave the realm of noise entirely behind him here. It's a great disc anyhow; fans of Ground-Zero will love it, but also fans of more "conventional" free jazz. Tsugami Kenta, on alto sax, and Kikuchi Naruyoshi, on tenor sax, are the predominant players here; Otomo's guitar and samplings are more a matter of background support. I assume this is the same Kikuchi who provides the big Ayleresque sounds on GROUND ZERO PLAYS STANDARDS -- which is essential stuff from Otomo, if you don't know it. FLUTTER will make any fans of avant jazz happy.

An album probably most appreciated while totally smashed (I happen to love it stone sober). Very loose jazz just slurring it's way and being thrown all about and all over the place. The electronics peeking here and there definitely mess with you. Highly effective Japanese jazz album. Sweet!

Mingus and Dolphy arrangements, but...what's that noise? Is that the refrigerator? Did somebody forget to turn down their hearing aid? Assymetric jazz + piercing electronic jabber = ?