James Allsopp (tenor saxophone
& bass clarinet), Sylvain Darrifourcq (drums, objects & toys), Adrien
Dennefeld (guitar & cello) & Kit Downes (organ, keyboard & prepared
piano)
(Review by Russell).
An Anglo-French quartet,
Barbacana comprises two star names of the new generation of British musicians -
Kit Downes and James Allsopp - and two stellar performers from France - Sylvain
Darrifourcq and Adrien Dennefeld. The quartet’s debut recording on Babel Label opens
with a foursome’s squabble - Animation.
A bewildering, frantic patchwork of noise; clattering Darrifourcq, Downes’
keyboard mania, Hawaiian Frisell oddity from Dennefeld (guitar) and the
relative restraint of reedsman Allsopp ushers in a calming coda.
Allsopp’s bass clarinet maintains
the new found sanity on Steam, guitar
becalmed. Switching to tenor, Allsopp resists temptation as Darrifourcq taps
out a rhythmic pattern (no takers!). Adobes
simmers, slow groove, found and prepared sonics, quickening tempo, then done.
To the title track - Barbacana - and it’s polyrhythmic intro,
then done, a mere 1’49 on the clock. Allsopp’s For No Raisin (great title!) lopes along, tenor, morse code guitar,
a bayou hinterland. Downes and Allsopp’s Migration-Big
BIG shop careers out of control,
Allsopp’s tenor takes command, Dennefeld wails, Darrifourcq’s coiled-spring
intensity launches a post -Trane workout, exhausted, they give out.
The closing track - Outro - composed
by Dennefeld searches for a hook; Downes repeated motif underpinned by bass
clarinet, it fades out (Outro).
In summation, Barbacana features stunning
musicianship, all of the tunes promise to develop into a grand affair yet
resolve to leave the listener wanting more. And in concert hearing of the music
of Barbacana is sure to be a fulfilling experience.
Russell.
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