CD Review: Hannes Riepler - Wild Life

Hannes Riepler (gtr); Chris Cheek (sax): Oli Hayhurst (bs); James Maddren (dms).

(Review by Lance).

Two hipsters meet in a bar near Ronnie's. One of them is in shock. "I can't believe it man but I heard it with my own ears!"

"Heard what man?"

"A CD and, wait for it, James Maddren wasn't on drums!"

"Have you checked with A & E?"

"First thing man, he ain't there."

"Must be a crap CD then!

Slightly exaggerated I know but James does seem to turn up in many guises.

Justifiably so, as this disc demonstrates.

A drummer, a man for all seasons. Along with Olie Hayhurst, the pair provide the impetus for some beautiful playing from Chris Cheek - an American and, no, it isn't an Art Salt cover up! However, Cheek does display many of Pepper's qualities - lyricism, exploration, sound and an ability to extract everything from the material at hand.

Riepler, an Austrian now an integral part of the London scene, proves to be the perfect foil for Cheek's explorations, his own chordal machinations adding to the mix and, forever bursting forth solowise like the first cuckoo in spring.

As the blurb says "This is not fast food music" - it isn't. But, if music is indeed the food of love, I'll dine out on this for a long time.
They tour in January.
12 - Cardiff.
14 - Cambridge.
15 - London.
19 - Innsbruck
Now they've got 4 days between London and Innsbruck... nah! - just a thought...
Lance.
Hannes Riepler - Wild Life available on Jellymould from February 8.