Customer Reviews

Unstable Molecule

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Isotope 217, another outfit coming from the incredibly fertile grounds of Chicago, offers in this release a near-perfect formula to translate the vast Jazz heritage to contemporary styles. The mix of intimate, confessional jazz passages with electronic collages met a rare balance in this recording, thanks to an extremelly competent production. Rob Mazurek's work on cornet only enhances the final product, and the transitions between old an new are seamless. This proves that bringing jazz to new audiences can be done without the poor pastiche concocted by the mundane acid-jazz crowd. Give it a try, you'll be surprised.

And that's saying a lot! Isotope 217 includes members of Tortoise as well as others and the sound is vaguely similar, although much more jazz-slanted, especially on this debut. The free-jazz sounds of the first track along with its tension chords make it a great opener, but it's really "La Jetee" that makes this essential: purely blissful, laid back listening. Those into the post-rock scene will not be disappointed by this release as Isotope 217 are among the best out there.

I'm happy that the reviewers here find so much in this release but I think it needs a contrasting review to warn others (like me!) who might be tempted to dive in based solely on their recommendations.

If you (like me!) are old enough to have lived through the courtship of jazz and rock in the late sixties, this release does not sound that special. To give you some signposts, I am reminded at various times of Zappa's "Eric Dolphy Memorial Barbecue", King Crimson's "Happy Family" and Manfred Mann Chapter Three's first album. All of these, interestingly, date from 1969/70. There's even some wah-wah guitar on one track.

There are some modern touches, of course; the overall feel is probably best described as "post-jazz" in the same way that the laid-back "noodle-music" Thrill Jockey tends to release is categorised as "post-rock". At this stage, I can't accept this as a milestone release musically. That's not to say that it may not be influential in some way, of course.

I've docked them an extra star for the length - 31 minutes for an effectively full price release. I see the Japanese version manages to include two more tracks which double the album length! What's the story?

this cd has basically all the good qualities of a high-quality jazz album with all the brilliance of the percussion that we have come to expect from tortoise. even if it is only 31 minutes long, it is the type of album that catches your ear the first time you hear it and then continues to impress you for years to come, as its more subtle elements will impress you ever time you listen to it. even if you don't like jazz, think tortoise are excellent but boring musicians, and hate instrumental music, you will still enjoy this record because it is just that good. a warning in closing; the other two albums by isotope 217 are NOT as accesible as this one, so although i would advise you to buy this one without even hearing it first, borrow the others from someone first (or listen to them quite a few times from this site) because they do not have the immediate album of this album even though they are equally good.

.....i really like this cd a lot. it combines very heavy free jazz with the universal indie rock sound of chicago. although i could pretty much guess what this sounded like before i heard it, i'm very excited about the outcome. it's very laid back and soothing while at the same time exciting and new. i love the usage of the bass in these songs. some even have really kickin' beats(always a plus for me). this music sounds like what a lot of dj's try to portray when they spin, but you get it here in a live band. check out the songs, "kryptonite smokes the red line" for it's mellow drones and cool vibes. "la jetee" for it's smooth beats and nice groove. "phonometrics" for the funk. all in all a very solid album. give it a try, you won't be let down.....

Although from a technical standpoint not their greatest work, certainly my favorite. It reminds me of M. Davis's "Bitches Brew" but more direct and to the point. It's a lean album that continuosly keeps ones interest. Th eversion of Jetty" which later appeared on Tortoise's TNT is also an interesting interpretation.

This is literally the most interesting jazz album to be released in 30 years. It is jazz in the sense that jazz was free, improvised and interesting instrumental music, not by any definition of traditional jazz structure. This record is played by virtuostic musicians creating genuinely fresh and listenable music, for people who understand that the "cool jazz" of the 90's is nothing of the sort.