(Review by Russell)
Simmons layers-up haunting electronic and acoustic landscapes…associated with these far-flung [islands and atolls]. So says the publicity blurb about the new CD by Monocled Man. Multi-instrumentalist Rory Simmons’ distant, troubled trumpet sound stretches out across an expanse of ocean joining modular synths, sequencers and chopped audio.
This second album from Simmons and regular collaborators Chris Montague, guitar, and Jon Scott, drums, develops improvisations from predetermined, home-studio-produced sonic environments. Leftfield? Cutting-edge? Or, simply, something other than jazz? Monocled men, as they call themselves, work in contemporary jazz, recording and touring in others’ bands.
This second album from Simmons and regular collaborators Chris Montague, guitar, and Jon Scott, drums, develops improvisations from predetermined, home-studio-produced sonic environments. Leftfield? Cutting-edge? Or, simply, something other than jazz? Monocled men, as they call themselves, work in contemporary jazz, recording and touring in others’ bands.
Chris Montague is a fine guitarist, Jon Scott an accomplished drummer. This new CD We Drift Meridian drafts in Emilia Mårtensson and Ed Begley to contribute vocals on tracks two, four and six of ten. Multi-layered, densely textured, this Whirlwind Recordings’ CD will find little resonance with a jazz audience. Its (target?) audience is likely to be found in the industrial, post-prog club scene.
We Drift Meridian by Monocled Man is released this Friday, 23 September on Michael Janisch’s Whirlwind Recordings (WR 4692). Servants Jazz Quarters, London hosts the album launch on Tuesday 4 October with a support set from Chris Sharkey.
Russell.
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