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Sunship - Sunship
| Artist: | Sunship |
| Title: | Sunship |
| Label: | Independent |
| Length(s): | 20 minutes |
| Year(s) of release: | 2005 |
| Month of review: | [03/2006] |
Line up
Michael Monhart - sax
Brian Heaney - guitars
David Revelli - drums
Andrew Luthringer - bass
Tracks
| 1) | Psalm X | 6.18
|
| 2) | Drinking Bear | 3.35
|
| 3) | Her Name Is Danny | 3.37
|
| 4) | Fuzzy Logic | 3.13
|
| 5) | Masha | 3.21
|
Summary
The music
Psalm X opens the album with a sax style that reminds of Soft Machine during their two saxes phase (the band themselves mention Ornette Coleman and John Coltrane). The rhythm laid underneath reminds strongly of those used by St. Germain. As the track progresses we move through a somewhat freaky guitar bit before turning over to a drum solo. This triggers the return to the original theme. Drinking Bear takes things a bit further even, replacing the St Germain rhythms with more technically oriented drumming (of rather good quality), but maintaining the alternation of sax and guitar.
Her Name Is Danny leaves the direction chosen for its predecessors, moving into a smoky jazz bar, with melancholic, moody almost, saxes and just sparse supporting guitar and drums. To compensate for this temporary lapse in abrasion Fuzzy Logic opens relentless on full throttle soaring sax, pretty much drowning out the drums and guitar. Midway the track loses some steam, giving the listener time to take in some air for the remaining bit.
Closer Masha seems to focus on a soprano sax, given the high sound. This track is more melodic, to the point of bordering on meandering at times.
Conclusion
Sunship definitely move within the realm of musician's music. Their style is mostly technical, far more so than it is melodic. But, apart from the fourth track, they manage to refrain from going wild too much. The result is pretty interesting for musicians and those into listening to more experimental oriented avant jazz just might enjoy themselves too. I know I did.
© Roberto Lambooy