TIMA FORMOSA (2010)

AN EARLY MEETING OF THE AMBARCHI / HAINO / O'ROURKE TRIO FROM WHAT I CAN GATHER NOT LONG AFTER O'ROURKE DECAMPED TO JAPAN FULL-TIME. I THINK, FROM SOMETHING ELSE I READ, O'ROURKE DIDN'T REALLY DO A LOT BETWEEN 2005 (HIS TIME WITH SONIC YOUTH AND WILCO) AND 2008. YOU CAN SORT OF SEE A BIT OF A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO BROAD ERAS (THOUGH THERE ARE MANY PHASES WITHIN EACH, OR SUB-NARRATIVES, OR WHATEVER). 

THE MAIN ONE IS THAT I THINK A LOT OF THE EGO SEEMS TO GO OUT OF JIM'S MUSIC. HE BURIES HIMSELF IN COLLABORATIONS AND MAKES MUSIC THAT IS LESS DEMONSTRATIVE, REJECTING THE POP GESTURES OF THE TURN OF THE CENTURY.

ANYWAY WHILST I AM GENERALLY A FAN OF THIS TRIO THIS ONE DOESN'T HIT ANY SPOT. IT IS MOSTLY COMPRISED OF INTROVERTED SYNTH DRONES OVERLAPPING. NO ONE GETS TOO HEAVY UNTIL THE BACK QUARTER OF THE RECORD WHEN THERE ARE MORE PULSING INDUSTRIAL MOMENTS AND HAINO TURNS FROM FLOWERY GHOST INTO WAILING BANSHEE. 

GENERALLY THESE RECORDS SEEM TO LIVE AND DIE MORE ON WHETHER HAINO IS IN THE MOOD TO BRING THE FIRE. O'ROURKE AND AMBARCHI PLAY AS HIS BACKING BAND DESPITE THE DEMOCRATIC CREDIT SYSTEM. ANYWAY, IT ISN'T BAD, BUT GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE SIZZLED ON A COUPLE OF RECORDS THEY'VE A BAR SET THAT THIS DOESN'T EVEN REMOTELY GET CLOSE TO JUMPING.

HAGYOU (2008)

YOSHIMI (SHE OF THE BATTLE WITH THE PINK ROBOTS IN THE FLAMING LIPS ALBUM TITLE) IS ARGUABLY ONE OF THE SICKEST DRUMMERS AND BEST EXPERIMENTAL MUSICIANS OF MY LIFETIME SO COMING TOGETHER WITH JIM AND VENERABLE SAXOPHONIST AKIRA SAKATA WILL BRING *THE HEAT* SURELY!

I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE DIVISION OF LABOUR IS HERE BUT SAKATA BLOWS A MEAN HORN - NOT PARTICULARLY ABSTRACT OR WEIRD STUFF, EITHER - IT'S JUST THE BACKING OF REVERBED KEYS AND SQUELCHY ELECTRONIC NOISES PUTS YOU IN A VERY LIGHTLY EXPERIMENTAL MODE. IT'S ACTUALLY PLEASANT. IT HAS A SUNDAY AFTERNOON FEEL TO IT. OCCASIONALLY SAKATA SINGS PLAINTIVELY.

THIS RECORD IS A NICE SURPRISE. IT LIVES NEARER TO TRADITIONAL FORMS OF JAZZ THAN I WAS EXPECTING, THOUGH THE STUFF JIM AND YOSHIMI ARE DOING AROUND THE EDGES IS DIFFERENT AND COOL AND MAKES FOR A LISTENING EXPERIENCE I'VE NOT HAD BEFORE. MAYBE IF YOU LIKE MATANA ROBERTS YOU COULD GIVE THIS A BASH.