Izvajalec: Ulterior Lux
Založba: Fazzul Music
Izid: year
Ocena: 4.2/5
Adventures je še eden album skupine Ulterior Lux, ki jo vodita dva velika glasbenika, Markus Stauss in Jean Chaine. Tokrat je Stauss odgovoren za vse kompozicije, medtem ko je Jean Chaine,ki je bil nekoč vodja skupine (sodeč poi menu enega albuma), degradiran le na stopnjo aranžerja in glasbenika. Dvojcu se pridruži še Remi Strauly na bobnih in klaviaturah.
Glasba tukaj ne sloni tako zelo na rocku kot na nekaterih drugih Staussovih projektih. Lahko bi celo rekel, da gre za free jazz. Jazzovske improvizacije so mnogo bolj očitne, vendar pa so tako dobro odigrane in inventivne, da me ne moti. Prav tako je veliko tipičnih Staussovih melodij, ki sijejo s svojo ljubeznijo do življenja in živahnostjo. V njegovi glasbi je veliko veselja, najde pa tudi prostor za otožnost in intenzivnost. Z njim nikoli ne veš kaj lahko pričakuješ. Seveda mož ne pozabi vključiti niti nekaterih minimalističnih in avantgardnih trikov, s katerimi obdrži pozornost poslušalcev.
Glasba tukaj je precej osnovna, saj so v skupini le trije člani (če imaš v zasedbi Staussa, jih pravzaprav ne potrebuješ več, bi bili le v napoto), ki igrajo bobne (plus klaviature), bas in seveda saksofon (z dodatki). Vsi trije glasbeniki so mojstri svoje obrti in vihtijo svoje instrumente z izjemnim znanjem in veščino in še enkrat več dokazujejo, da v tem trenutku najboljša glasba prihaja od “neznanih” skupin.
Ulterior Lux je bolj jazzovski projekt kot katerikoli druga Staussova “avantura”, a to ne pomeni, da je ta album kaj manj avanturističen kot njegove druge plošče. Njegove skladateljske sposobnosti so tudi tukaj očitne. Skozi ves album so glasbeniki izjemni, ne le Stauss, temveč vsi člani. Znajo se popolnoma prepustiti in uprizoriti čisti jazzovski odklop, znajo pa se tudi sprostiti in igrati bolj nežne dele. Še ena lepotica v Staussovem katalogu jazzovskih skrivnosti torej. Mož se zdi neusahljiv vir presenečenj in inspiracije.
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Adventures is another album by Ulterior Lux, headed by two great players Markus Stauss and Jean Chaine. This time round, Stauss is responsible for all the compositions, while Jean Chaine, who used to be the leader of the band (assuming from the name of one of their alums), is reduced to the role of arranger and musician. The two men are joined by Remi Strauly on drums and keyboards.
The music here doesn’t really rely on rock as much as some of Stauss’s other offerings. One could almost say that this is almost free jazz. The jazz improvisations are much more apparent, but they’re always so well played and inventive that I don’t mind. There’s also an abundance of typical Stauss melodies, which shine with their catchiness, love for life and exuberance. I find a lot of joy in his music, but he also allows room for plaintiveness and intensity. You never know what to expect! He, of course, also doesn’t forget to include some minimalistic and avant-garde tricks to maintain your attention.
This is very stripped-down music. The band namely consists of only three players (with Stauss in the band, you really don’t need any more, they’d just get in the way) on drums (plus keyboards), bass and naturally saxophones (and extras). All three musicians are masters of their craft and handle their instruments with tremendous dexterity and skill, again proving the fact that the best music nowadays comes from the “unknown” bands.
Ulterior Lux are a jazzier project than Stauss’s other “adventures”, but that doesn’t mean that this album is any less adventurous than his other records. Stauss’s skills as a composer shine through on this one yet again. The playing is tremendous throughout, not just from Stauss, but from all the guys. They know how to completely let go and do a total jazz “freak-out”, but they can also chill out with some more mellow segments. Another beauty in Stauss’s catalogue of jazz secrets. He seems to be a never-ending source of surprises and inspiration.
Zasedba
arkus Stauss – saksofoni in dodatki
Jean Chaine – električni bas
Rémy Sträuli – bobni, klaviature
Produkcija
Markus Stauss
Seznam skladb
1. Shortstories
2. Jean’s 7 nightmares
3. In between
4. Kater Carlo
5. Deep inside
6. Again
7. Skyline
8. Twenty-six
9. A bientôt
